Massac County, Illinois - Chapter 19: Pope County Historical Reminiscences, 1900 (part 1 of 4)

Chapter 19: Pope County Historical Reminiscences

POPE County was organized 1816 from Gallatin and Johnson counties, and extended on the Ohio river from Cave-in-Eock to old Port Massac. The county seat was located at Sarahsville - since Golconda - on the banks of the Ohio river, about J3 midway between the points mentioned.

The first county offlcers were: Eobert Lacy, Benoni Lee and Thomas Ferguson, county commissioners; Joshua Scott, recorder; Hamlet Ferguson, sheriff; Samuel O'Melvaney, treasurer, and Thomas 0. Browne - afterward Judge Browne - prosecuting attorney.

At the first term of the commissioners' court, among other business, the court fixed the price of meals, lodging, stable and horse-feed, and the price of whisky. About the year 1839, the upper part of Pope county was organized as the county of Hardin, fixing the line near Grand Pierre creek. In the year 184.3 the lower portion of Pope county, with a part of Johnson, was organized as Massac county, and by act of the legislature, Geo. H. Hanna, the county surveyor of Pope county, was directed to locate the line between Pope and Massac counties. At the first term of the commissioners' court of Massac county, the first county orders were issued to George H. Hanna and his assistants for said service, and were sold to John W. Read, the sheriff, for 75 cents on the dollar.

Eddyville, the youngest of the Pope county towns, is about fifteen miles northwest of Grolconda, was laid out for Mr. Fulgham by J. E. Y. Hanna, in 1866, and became incorporated in 1883. Eddyville is a thriving village, surrounded by a good agricultural country, and has a good country trade. It is on elevated ground, and is visible for miles around. If it could have railroad connection with the outside world ,it would become a very important town.

Dixon Springs is a noted health resort. The water is Chalybeate; and is thought to be very beneficial to those who use it from July to September. The place was first occupied by William Dixon, from whom it derived its name, in the year 1848. The scenery contiguous to the Springs is very wild and picturesque, and it has become a favorite summer resort.

The first church organized in Pope county was Big Creek Baptist church, in the northeast part of the county. The organization was effected on the 19th day of July, A. D., 1806, by the Eevs. Stephen Stilley and William Jones. This church existed twenty years, when it was dissolved, and a portion of its members joined in the organization of the Grand Pierre church, October 21st, 1827, by Elder Stephen Stilley and William Eondeau, which church still has an existence. The second church organized iu Pope county was the Golconda Pres byterian church, Oct. 24th, 1819, with sixteen members, by the Eev. Nathan B. Derrow, a missionary from Connecticut. This church still exists in Golconda. The third church organized in the county was Big Bay church of the Baptist denomination, about eight miles southwest of Golconda, by Elders Stilley and Henderson, about 1819 or 1820. It existed about twenty years, and was dissolved, a portion of its members joined in the organization of Mill Creek Baptist church, August, 17th, 1840. ilill Greek church is still in existence.

We can learn of but two church buildings, prior to 1840, to-wit: Big Bay Baptist church, about one mile from Green's old mill, and Grand Pierre church, about twelve miles north of Golconda, also a Baptist church. Both were log buildings, and were used for a long time. Bay church was abandoned on account of the rowdyism of some parties, led by one Hiram Green who habitually disturbed the congregation gathered for worship. The membership disbanded and assisted in forming new churches at other points. Grand Pierre church fared better, and worshipped in peace and quiet, in their house, until it became necessary to erect a new building.

The leading ministers of the Baptist denomination were Father Stilley - as he was called - ^^'illiam Eondeau - an Englishman - William Baker, John Hamilton, a Mr. Henderson, and, a little later, Charles Clay and Richard Fulherson.

The Methodists, Presbyterians and Cumberland Presbyterians had no houses for public worship, so far as we can learn, before 1840, but held their services in school houses, private dwellings, and in the court house in Golconda, and, for their larger assemblies, held what were called campmeetings. The plan of these meetings was to select a grovenear a plentiful supply of water, and clear the underbrush from a square sufficiently large to accommodate the assembly, then build temporary huts or tents on three sides of the square for the accommodation of the campers and their guests, which were abundantly supplied with straw; what was called ''scaffold beds" were constructed around the walls, and a supply of straw was placed on the ground under the beds, and all was used for sleeping apartments.

A large log was placed at the back of the camp hut - all camps fronted on the enclosed square - against which was built a fire for culinary pur-poses, and a long board table, supported by forks driven in the ground, at which all took their meals. Hospitality, in its widest sense, prevailed at these meetings, and no one needed to leave hungry, or fail to find a place in which to rest and sleep. Large assemblies have been provided for in this way. Inside the square, a pulpit was erected near one end, with high platform floor, boarded up at the back, roofed, and with a seat at the back, with a board in front, on which to lay the books, this - and the pulpit was completed. In front of the pulpit or "stand," as it was named, rows of logs were placed with one end toward the pulpit, and the other to the open side of the square, across which planks - or in their absence, split logs - were placed for seats for the congrega- tion. All being prepared, about Thursday of the time agreed upon, those who intended camping removed from their home to the ''camp ground,'' where they lived, usually until the next Tuesday or Wednesday, and sometimes longer. The whole energies of the campers were directed to supplying the necessities of those who were attending these meetings, and furthering the objects to be accomplished by them. Days and nights were spent in preaching, praying, exhorting and singing, which sometimes continued nearly all night. It was thought, at that time, that great good was effected by these meetings, but as there was necessarily some confusion attending those annual gatherings, some evil-minded persons took the liberty of abusing the hospitality of the campers, and caused such disorder, that it was thought best to discontinue them. Their necessity also ceased as the country became settled, and churches were built.

Of the old time preachers, the prominent persons of the Baptist church have been mentioned. William Rondeau, the most prominent among them, came from England at an early day and settled near Golconda, where he resided for some years, and then he purchased the island just above Golconda, on which he had his home for the remainder of his life. He; was an educated gentleman of the old school, and while he was affable and polite, he had a bluntness in his manner, that gave offense to some persons, unintentional on his part.

He, like some other persons, had his eccentricities and peculiarities, but was a good man, a warm-hearted, earnest minister of the Gospel, and gave his views on the Scripture with plainness and force. He was an early settler in Pope county, deeply interested in the advancement of the moral, mental and material interests of the people. He was scathing in his reproof of any misconduct at church.

On one occasion he noticed some thoughtless persons whispering during the sermon, and immediately stopped, saying: "If you have anything worth saying, speak out, that we may all hear it, and I will wait until you have done, as it is bad manners for two persons to speak at the same time, and beside this, Paul says, 'all whisperers are liars!' "

Mr. Eondeau had some humor in his make-up, for example : One night, after a preaching service, he went with a brother minister named Hamilton for lodging. The wife of Mr. Hamilton, not going home, the two old preachers had the house to themselves. After conversing awhile they thought they had better have a lunch before retiring. Mr. Hamilton on searching, failed- to find bread. He said : ''1 know there was a 'pone' here, but I cannot find it." Mr. Eondeau answered, "Pone, Pone, Ponee, Pona, Pony. Pony is a little 'orse - I don't want to 'heat' an 'orse."

Of the other Baptist ministers mentioned, they were all good men and did the best work for the community that they could, but none of them were liberally educated, and consequently did not have the influence in moulding the young and growing country that Mr. Eondeau possessed.

Of the ministers of the Presbyterian church in the early days of the country, there was but one who had much to do in influencing, for good, the pioneers. Perhaps this was from the fact that he was the only one who was here for a time, suflicient to accomplish much. This was the Eev. Benjamin F. Spilman. He preached his first sermon here when quite a young man, and was the principal minister of that denomination here for about forty years. He was a native of Kentucky, was educated, and was an earnest and zealous jireacher. He had an influence which has not been forgotten in the different fields where he was called to the ministry. His discourses were logical, earnest, afl'ectionate, and compelled his auditors to believe that he felt the truth of the principles which he urged upon them. He died at a ripe old age after a life of usefulness to his fellowmen.

In the earlier days of his ministry he spent much of his time on horseback, as his appointments covered an extent of more than one hundred miles in diameter, and he has been known to go on horseback from Golconda to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend the sessions of the general assembly of his church. A gentleman who lived on the hill south of Gol- conda, who prpfessed to believe that all preachers were lazy, and took to the ministi-y to avoid work, and whose residence overlooked the house of Mr. Spilman, saw that when he came home from a preaching tour, he pulled off his coat and went to work in the garden, and did other neceasai^ work, remarked that he had "found one preacher who was not lazy."

On the occasion of one of those horseback trips to Philadelphia, the then county surveyor, Geo. H. Hanna, wished to procure a new compass, and Philadelphia being at that time the only place where it could be purchased, Mr. Spilman bought the instrument there, and carried it on horseback to Golconda. Who would think for a moment of doing so now, or who would think of making the journey on horseback in these days of railroads and steamboats? There were many other ministers of the Presbyterian church who labored in the county, but their stay here was so short that they failed to leave their impress on the growing community.

Of the ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church there were a number who labored in this part of the country, among whom I will mention James Alexander, Jesse Pearce, William Davis, Benjamin Bruce and Woods M. Hamilton, who preached through this country, holding stated appointments somewhat after the manner of a circuit preacher, and also protracted and camp meetings in the late summer and autumn months. These ministers did not reside here, but in the counties of Gallatin and White.

There was one exception, the Rev. Peter Cartwright, who traveled and preached over Southern Illinois and who sometimes visited the counties of LowerEgypt, and he is remembered more on account of his eccentricities than for any permanent influence which he left on the people of the country where he labored. It is principally to the local preachers in the M. E. church that we must look for an abiding influence on the pioneer population. Among them, notably, was Eev. James P. Crawford, who resided on Sugar creek, a few miles north from Dixon Springs. He settled there in the early thirties, and remained there to the end of his life, which, unfortunately, was before he reached old age. While he lived he was noted for his interest in any measure for the improvement of the people the whole country, and his interest was not manifested by words alone. His works were more abundant than were his words. The whole country around felt his loss when he was carried to God's aci'e. And when he fell, there was noi one in that community who could take up the work which he left in an unfinished condition, and carry it on successfully as he had been doing. He was a good man in every respect, and was entitled to, and enjoyed the warm affection of all who knew him. Peace to his ashes.

The first settlements in Pope county, with a few excejitions, were on or near the banks of the Ohio river. At or near the site of what was afterw'ard Golconda, George V. Lusk, for whom Lusk's creek was named, and his wife Sarah, or Sallie, as she was called, for whom the town was first named Sarahsville, were the first settlers. The date of coming cannot now be given. Thomas Ferguson was also one of the first to come to the place for a home in that wild region. He afterward became the owner of the laud on which the town of Golconda was laid out, and donated twenty acres of land for a portion of the town. Green B. Field, the grandfather of General Green B. Eaum, purchased the lands of Ferguson. Other pioneers here were Daniel Field, Dr. William Sim, Hugh Mc- Nulty, Ransom Peters, William Eondeau, Thomas Laroth, Joseph Pryor, James King, John Eaum, Joshua Scott, William Belfoid, and Charles Dunn. A few miles above Golconda at or near the mouth of Grand Pierre creek, was a settlement of pioneers, extending into what is now Hardin county. John Crawford located there in 1808, at or near the same time Alexander Blair, Samuel O. Melvania, James Sted and Hugh Robertson, with others who were but transient or were not prominent in the community. The persons who are named were nearly all from the Emerald Isle.

The settlement of the Lower Bay bottom was made in an early day by AMUiam Cowan, Robert Scott and Samuel Smith, who located there before 1817, and bought large bodies of government land. Their descendants still reside on the river or near to it in that part of the county. One Tittsworth was also a pioneer who located a land warrant in 1814 near that point, at the confluence of the Big Bay and the Ohio. Reuben Glover and John Wood, also located on land in that vicinity. William Dyer located on land in the same place in 1816, and his descendants are still to be found there.

Another early settlement was below Bay City, the prominent members of whom were, John Lewis, John L. Hickman, George B. Wood and John Neely, who was the grandfather of the late George W. Neely of Metropolis, with others not so well known outside their immediate neighborhood. The above named parties purchased land from the government in the year 1817 and 1818, while the state of Illinois was still a territory.

Following the Ohio we come to Hamletsburg, which was named for Hamlet Ferguson, the first sheriff of the county, who was an early settler there, and entered land in 1814, that being the earliest year in which land entries were made in Pope county. Other early settlers were John C. Caldwell, John P. Given, Reuben Smith and Julius Warwick, soon followed by John H. Smith, the first school commissioner of the county.

In an early day there was a path or trail leading from Fort Massac to Kaskaskia on the Mississippi, below St. Louis, which in the common jjarlance of the country was called "The Kaskatrace.'" This road, or pathway, crossed the Bay creek at the site of Green's old mill, and passing east of Columbus came to the bluff called the Massac Bluff, on account of its being the bluff nearest to Fort Massac, which could not be avoided. This bluff still retains the name.

On or near this old route from Fort Massac to Kaskaskia, south of Bay creek, in the bottoms, or flats, there was a settlement in an early day made by a Frenchman of some means. The date of his coming to that place cannot now be ascertained, but it must have been, if not the first settlement in the county, about the first. This is established by the fact that in clearing his farm, which was very heavily timbered, he had to get the soldiers from Fort Massac to come up and help him to pile the logs on his farm for burning.

equivalent and the family have since been known by the name of King. When Le Roy was building his house, which was a large log house, he needed lumber for floors and other purposes, but there were no saw mills, and no means of transportation by which lumber could be brought from other points. But the Frenchman was equal to the situation. He got his logs for the lumber and set them on end, confined them there, scaffolded up, and set his boys on the scaffold, and with a cross-cut saw cut his lumber from top to bottom and built his house, which was standing until a few years since, when it was torn down and removed.

Others came into the country, and settled near Mr. Le Boy. Among the prominent persons were Charles A. Shelby, who afterward lived in Massac county, Jacob Shelby, a brother, I believe; John Ditterline, and James Green, who built and owned the mill, known as Green's old mill, where lumber was sawed and corn ground into meal for the use of the settlers. These men had means at their command and became prominent in the community.

Mr. Charles Shelby loaned money to a large number of persons who wished to enter government land. On one occasion a friend came to him to borrow fifty dollars with which to enter a tract of land, and, having obtained it, went to the land office at Shawneetown, and purchased the tract on which Mr. Shelby lived. He was aware that Mr. Shelby was occupying public land while loaning money to others, and thought he would perpetrate a practical joke upon him, and then give him a deed to the land in payment for the loan, but Mr. Shelby failed to see the joke, and becoming offended, bad blood was the result, and a long suit at law with heavy expenses was the end of the matter. John Ditterline lived in peace and died at a ripe age and left numerous descendants behind him, many of whom still live in the county.

James Green, who was the builder and owner of the mill on the Hay creek - run by water power - came in an early day from the State of New York, and his saw and grist mill was the source of supply of lumber and meal for a large extent of country, and was kept in operation after it was rebuilt several times, on the same site. Mr. Green was a prominent citizen in the country, and was intelligent beyond the average of pioneers. He was often the chairman of public meetings, and his reputation was good. He died at the place on which liefirst located at a ripe age. While he stood fair as a man and a miller, he was a failure as the father of a family, being the father of the noted Hiram - or Hite - Green, who was a desperado, and was finally outlawed in the country. Mr. Green brought his mill machineiy by flat boat to Oolconda, and c;onveyed it from there over land to the site, about eight miles distant.

A circumstance occurred on landing, which, years later, had a tragic ending. One of the hands on the boat was named Cooper, and on the bank of the river at the landing were a number of persons watching the boat, among whom was a man by the name of Joiner, who, in the common parlance of the country, was called "a bully," being noted for his ability in the science of fisticuffs, the professors of which science had quite a reputation in those days.

Joiner, who was overbearing in his manner, began in an offensive way to give the hands on the boat, who were entire strangers, directions about making the landing. Cooper, who thought he knew suflieiently well how to bring in a boat, felt insulted at the language of Joiner, and replied testily, and was answered by a threat from Joiner, who could brook no impertinent words from another. Cooper told him to wait until the boat was secured, and upon his coming ashore the two men had a regular combat with the weapons furnished by nature. From this time, for a period of, perhaps, twenty years, a fight between Cooper and Joiner was of no uncommon occurrence, and with variable results. Sometimes one, sometimes the other was worsted in the battle, until the men each hated, and feared the other. Finally Cooper pushed Joiner's gun aside and buried a saddler's hammer in his skull, thus ending the feud which had existed so long between them. This was the first time that either had resorted to the use of weapons, as

Near the site of Green's old mill there is a very high cliff of rock, which at one point shelves out some seventy feet high, leaving quite a cavern beneath it, and extending back near one hundred feet, forming quite a shelter, and in which a large number of persons can be protected from the inclemency of the weather. In this cavern were a large number of human bones, which were found there as late as the forties. The bones were of men, women and children of various sizes, and evidently were the remains of savages. There is no knowledge of how 01' when they were left there, but there is an old tradition that a remnant of a tribe of Indians were driven from their home, and taking this place for shelter, either perished by starvation, or were pursued and massacred by their enemies.

Some three miles north of this point the bones of a man were found in the thirties, which were identified as the skeleton of a white man, murdered by an Indian guide who was piloting him from old Fort Massac to Kaskaskia. It was said that the traveler, a few days before starting, in a spree got the Indian guide into a nest of yellow jackets which stung him severely, and that the guide -when he had him away from any assistance killed him in revenge. At any rate, the traveler never reached Kaskaskia, and the bones being found on the old trail between Fort Massac and Kaskaskia, gives color to the statement.

A large settlement, extending from near the village of Columbus eastward toward Golconda was founded at an early day which was destined to become an impo) tant factor in the county of Pope, and had an influence over the surrounding country. Previous to 1815- exact date not known - James Alcorn, the ancestor of General Alcorn of Mississippi, located there. At or near the same time John Calvert and Francis Glass, Hezekiah Hale soon followed. This Mr. Hale was an ancestor on the mother's side of Judge Wm. P. Sloan, of Golconda. In 1817 or 1818, James Pittallo, a man of consid- erable means, emigrated from Scotland and located here. In 1819, John Hauna, with his seven sons, four of whom were heads of families, also George Hodge, David B. Glass, and B. F. Gavir, located in this settlement, which was for a time known as the Hanna Hills, but more recently Hodgville.

These men were men of intelligence beyond mediocrity, and industrious and thrifty, soon subduing the forests and bringing the soil into cultivation, and producing suflflcient to supply the wants of themselves, and others who were not so provident.

School houses were soon built, and filled by the young people, and, while the teachers of that day would not generally compare favorably with those of the present, yet there were some early teachers very good and qualified, who were placed over the children.

There were schools in this settlement when there were none others in the county, and as a result it soon had advantages over others not so fortunate.

Sunday schools were organized early in the twenties, and children had moral and religious training as well as literary instruction. Those early pioneers in this settlement, early discovei"ed the evils of using intoxocating liquor, and while in other parts of the county it was customary to have whisky at all gatherings, such as house-raisings, log-rollings, and harvesting, in this settlement it was understood that no such refreshments A\ould be furnished. The result was that the young men grew up sober, and became respectable citizens. That settlement, so began and so continued, has its fruits such as might be anticipated. There have been trained in that settlement seven ministers, seven physicians, and forty-five teachers in the public schools, several sheriffs, clerks of both circuit and county courts, a number of county treasurers, and all the county surveyors since 1831, except eight years, to date. All those mentioned were good men, and, with the exception of Witt, have numerous descendants who yet reside in the country. A few years later, the settlement was strengthened by the acquisition of the Waters, the Evitts, the Veaches, and others of less note, but that settlement has been prominent in the public affairs of the county, and has furnished a man to fill nearly every office in the county, and has always had men of means and ability residing there.

A few miles south of Eddyville, there was a settlement formed about the year 1815, among the members of which were Robert Penny, James A. Whiteside, Lincoln Harper, John Whiteside and Adam McGhee. The Penny's have all disappeared, but the Whitesides and the Harpers are numerous in that part of the county. James A. Whiteside coming to Illinois Territory, brought quite a number of slaves with him, and when the Territory became a State, with a constitution prohibiting slavery, they were indentured to him for a term of years, and some remained with him until his death at a good old age. Mr. Whiteside was the member from Pope in the Illinois Legislature as often and as long as he wished to be elected. He was a jovial, good-hearted man, good at an anecdote, and enjoyed a joke even when at his own expense. He was very popular with the people.

This settlement was strengthened soon after in 1817 or 1818 by three brothers named Shufflebarger - ^or as since called S. Barger. The three brothers were named Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with their cousin Simon S. Barger. The grandfather of the Hon. Simon S. Barger, came from Virginia. They were men of means, industrious, and energetic, and as farmers became solid men. They were the first farmers in the county to introduce red clover. They left numerous descendants, who have spread over the north half of the county, with quite an overflow into adjoining counties.

Richard M. Waters - the father of Hon. Geo. W. Waters - was one of the pioneers of this part of the county, but at a later date he went to the neighborhood of Glendale.

In 1817 or 1818, Richard Fulkerson started a settlement ten or twelve miles north of Golconda, and was soon joined by John Hamilton, some of the Cowsats, and others, who settled near them. ' The Fulkersons were good citizens, and had an influence for good in that part of the county. Rev. Richard

Fulkerson, the well known Regular Baptist preacher, is a sou of the old pioneer. The Floyd family, who were allied to the Fulkersons, and the Finneys, also related, came in a little later. All were men of note and became good citizens, and furnished the county with a number of oflQce-holders.

In the north part of the county there was an early settle ment which was called "The Morse Settlement," so called from John Morse, who came from South Carolina in 1817, a Baptist minister, who was the most prominent man in the community. He raised a large family, mostly sons, and the Morses are spread all over the north end of the county. With him came Mathew Jenkins, John, Joseph, and Jonathan Diarman. This settlement was for a number of years like an oasis in the desert, being surrounded by the unbroken forest, with no other settler for miles in any direction. These are all the prominent settlements which were made prior to the year 1820.

There were some isolated settlers prior to that time, but who did not form a neighboi'hood, and did not leave their impress on the community. Of those I will name Benjamin Belford, who raised several sons noted for their height, almost a head above their neighbors; Ebenezer Simpson, who settled near where New Liberty was afterward laid out, and who was, in his younger days, engaged in running keel-boats on the Ohio river. John Brown, also a keel-boat hand, settled six miles north of Golconda, with his brother, Wm. Brown. Jesse McCool settled in an early day on Lusk's creek, east of Eddyville, but did not remain there long, until he removed to a place near Dixon's Springs.

In the upper portion of Pope county - now Hardin - was the headquarters of a band of men known as the Sturdevants, who with other accomplishments of like honorable(?) character, carried on counterfeiting for a profession. On this and other accounts they became very obnoxious to the honest citizens of the country, and as they could not be convicted of the many offenses of which they were known to be guilty, they always proved everything necessary for their acquittal, it was determined to take steps independent of the courts. A party was raised, and led by Joseph Pryor, Dr. Wm. Sim, Rev. Wm. Rondeau, Hugh McNulty, John Raum, followed by others, made a descent upon the Sturdevant castle - a large two-story log house, but found the inmates prepared, and evidently expecting them. They were gathered in the second story, and with their guns fired through loop-holes at the attacking party, one of whom, Mr. Rondeau, received a charge in his left shoulder. A rush was made for the door by the besiegers, and brealving it down they attempted to ascend the stairs, but found a piece of artillery trained to rake the stairway when a suflQcient number of men should be ascending. The assaulting party withdrew and sent for reinforcements, but on their return found no one except females, the men having made their escape in the interval. During the assault one of the Sturdevants appeared at a window to take observations, and his head became a target for a moment, when some one fired at him, he spun round like a top and fell to the floor, hut was only stunned, it was thought, as he was not found afterwards.

The Sturdevants finding that the citizens were in earnest, and meant business, felt that some other locality was as safe for them, left the country and never returned. This affair occurred before 1820, exact date not known. Some others who were rather too intimate with this gang, were notified to leave the country, while some were conducted to Hurricane Island, where Judge Lynch at that time held his court, and from whose decisions there was no appeal.

So far as known, this was the first band of Regulators organized in Pope county, and at least one of this band was prominent in another organization at a later date. I allude to Dr. William Sim, one of the best citizens, in every respect, that ever lived in the county. Dr. Sim came from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Amei'ica, by a mistake, and located at Golconda by an accident, December 31st, 1818, and had a long and successful practice in his profession. For a number of years the nearest physicians were at Shawneetown and Jonesborough, Illinois, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

The only resident attorney in the county at an early date was Charles Dunn, who resided in Golconda for some years, until Wisconsin was organized into a Territory, when Mr. Dunn was appointed Governor of the Territory, and removed there, never coming back. There was no other resident lawyer from the time of Dunn's leaving until near 1840, when Judge Wesley Sloan settled here, remaining until his death. He was a man of more than common ability as an attorney at law, but was not blessed with oratorical powers, but he was a hard student as long as he was in practice, and had more than ordinary success. He was never known to go out of court on the papers when he prepared them. He was not quick as some were, but when he gave an opinion, after mature thought, he was uniformly correct.

The attorneys who practiced here were largely from Shawneetown. I will mention Henry Eddy, Jeff. Gatewood, S. S. Marshall, John A. McClernand, and Jeptha Hardin. Occasionally, in important cases, an attorney from Princeton or Hopkinsville would appear at the Pope circuit court. There was no judge of the circuit court a resident of the county until Judge Wesley Sloan was raised to the Bench.

The pioneer ministers having been mentioned, we will add nothing further at this place. As before mentioned. Dr. Sim was the only physician in or near Golconda, and he as a result, had a large tract of country to travel over. When Dr. Sim was married, he went to Philadelphia for his bride, going on horseback, and returning, with his bride, in a carriage, to Golconda.

In the thirties, however, Tarlton Dunn - a brother of Charles Dunn - studied medicine with Dr. Sim, and soon after Ebenezer Rondeau - a son of Rev. Wm. Rondeau, and John P. Hodge, and James H. Hanna became his pupils, all of whom were successful practitioners, for a longer or shorter period. All have passed over the river to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns." Dr. Sim died at his post in Golconda; Dr. Dunn died in Equality, Gallatin county; Dr. Rondeau died in Livingston county, Kentucky, and Dr. Hanna died in the pres- ent limits of Massac county, below Metropolis. A younger and more numerous crop of doctors have sprung into existence, and now, four or five miles is quite a ride for an M. D. to take in his buggy or road cart, instead of the twenty or thirty miles on horseback of their predecessors.

Perhaps the historian wishing to give his readers a favorable opinion of the times of which he was writing would saj little, or nothing, about the early schools, school houses, or teachers of the common schools. Especially would this be the case when writing of the early days of Pope county, but the historian does not make history, he records it.

So far as I can learn the first country school - if not the first school - in Pope county, was taught in the present limits of Hodgville by George H. Hanna, and the second in a different house, was taught by a Mr. Woolcut, and the third in the same bounds, but in a different house, was taught by a Mr. Wheat. Sometimes two of these schools were in progress at the same time.

James Pittallo, emigrated from Scotland, taught for a number of years, and wasi - for that time - an excellent teacher. He was raised in affluence, and never taught to do any work. When he was of age he inherited eighty thousand pounds, sterling. He, however, with what assistance he received, soon got rid of this incumbrance, and was reduced to poverty. He said that the people would have to support him, for he could do no business, but if they would permit him, he would educate their children for them. Generally the best qualification for a school teacher, was his inability, or unfitness for any other occupation. School teachers in that day were mostly cripples. The school house of that date was neither commodious nor elegant; in fact, gave no external evidence of a seminary or college. But boys and girls obtained there the rudiments of an education which made of them men and women who in after years were persons of note and usefulness.

twenty feet in dimension. When about four feet high another wall was built across one end three or four feet from the outer wall, and this served for a fire place, and a chimney which extended across the entire building. The whole was then daubed with clay to close the space between the logs, and roofed with clapboards.

Trees were cut and split into slabs five or six inches thick and were laid on logs for a floor. Smaller trees were split into halves, auger holes bored in them in which to drive legs, and these, with the flat side up, were the seats on which the pupils sat at their studies. At the end opposite the huge fire place, a log was sawn from the building, and just below this opening, a broad plank was fastened to the wall for a writing desk. Usually this opening for light was entirely open, but sometimes paper which had been oiled to make it translucent, was fastened over the so-called window to keep out the cold. This is a true description of the seminaries in which the children of the pioneers obtained their education.

One of the early teachers in Golconda was a gentleman named Kerr - a law student, who taught for some time and became insane. One night some men were watching with , him; he remarked to one of them: "You think that T am crazy." "No," was the reply; "we do not think you are crazy." "Well," says Mr. Kerr, "I will prove that you do think me crazy." He then stepped up to the gentleman and gave him a kick, looked him in the face a moment, and repeated the kick. "Now," says he, "every gentleman present is satisfied that you believe me to be crazy, else you would kick me in return."

In those early schools it was the custom for the pupils, while studying their lessons ,to spell, read and prepare all studies for recitation, to use their vocal powers as they chose - or, as it was called - they had a "loud school," and indeed it was sometimes distressingly loud! Where there were a number of strong lungs in full play, each striving to excel the other in vocal volume, it sounded as though pandemonium, or Bedlam, had broken loose.

pupil, while preparing his orthography lesson, would sometimes meet with a word which he was unable to pronounce, and under these circumstances, would leave his seat, and advance to the teacher, and, standing with his book in one hand and the index linger of the other hand at the difficult word, would hold the book before the teacher, who would pronounce the word for him. The pupil would then resume his seat and repeat the word as pronounced for him. On one occasion, in a school taught by one of these qualified teachers - as before mentioned - a boy came to the teacher, book in hand, finger at the word, the teacher looked at the word, but he was in the same condition that his pupil was, and, being unable to give the pronunciation, he told the boy to skip it. The boy returned to his seat, and as was the custom repeated the pronunciation as given by his teacher, "Skip-it, skipit!"

If, with these opportunities for an education, the pioneer children became ministers, lawyers, doctors, and legislators, to what heights of learning would they have soared, had they enjoyed the facilities for an education which their children and grandchildren have since enjoyed?

While there have been a number of homicides in the then limits of Pope county, and several convictions for murder, yet there has never been but one execution in the county - that of Henry 0. Shouse, who was tried here on a change of venue from Gallatin county. Shouse was a member of the James Ford gang, with headquarters at Ford's Ferry, on the Kentucky side of the river; but the act was committed in Illinois. It appeared that one of the gang had more knowledge of the doings of the others than they thought was safe, and perhaps his actions caused them to suspect that he intended to squeal. "As dead men tell no tales," Shouse secured his silence very etTectually. He was tried at the spring term of the Pope circuit court, and though ably defended, was convicted, sentenced and executed in June, 1832. He made a confession which was said to implicate in the crime some persons in high positions. His confession was designed for publication, but Ihe expectations of the public were doomed to be disappointed, as it was suppressed; but how it was spirited away and where concealed has never been Icnown to the public. Some responsible persons who were present at the confession as witnesses were asked to make a public statement of the leading- facts, but properly declined to do so, as they might by mistake criminate an innocent pei'son.

In those pioneer days the strength of muscle, the powers of endurance, and quickness of movement were of the first importance, and were held in higher esteem than were intellectual or moral qualities, and as nature always makes an efforl to supply its own deficiencies, the amusements and sports of the younger men and boys were of a character calculated to develop the qualities which were held in the highest regard. When young men or boj^s were together and had leisure, their pastime was running foot races, jumping, wrestling, lifting or throwing weights, all of which tended to develop muscular power. For an example, James Fulkerson, son of Richard Fulkerson, the old pioneer, was a large muscular man, but gave no idea of activity in his foriu, or figure, which only indicated massive strength. Yet he was never defeated in a foot race. In 1832 he was one of the volunteers who went out in the Black Hawk war. While there a discussion arose between the regiment from southern Illinois and a Wisconsin regiment as to the best jumper. A challege for a jumping match was given and accepted. The match was for three jumps on the level prairie. The Illinois regiment selected for their champion Mr. Fulkerson, while the Wisconsin regiment pitted against him their Colonel, Henry Dodge. The two regiments met on the ground selected, to witness the contest. Mr. Fulkerson jumped first, but was so clumsy and awkward in his movements that quite a laugh was raised by the backers of Colonel Dodge. They said there was danger of him knocking the bottom out of the earth.

Colonel Dodge jumped off so light and springy that he seemed to scarcely touch the ground, going two or three feet beyond Fulkerson, who then jumped and went three or four feet beyond the point reached by Dodge, who after repeated trials gave up the contest, and acknowledged defeat. In fact, Mr. Fulkerson was never defeated at a standing three jumps, in which he covered ihirty-six feet or more on a level.

As to his strength in lifting heavy weights, a single instance will suffice. At a gathering of some thirty or forty men at a log-rolling, there was a heavy cast-iron wheel, and it was proposed to test the strength of the men by lifting that wheel. Upon lifting at the wheel only three men could raise it from the ground, to-wit : James F. Fulkerson, Richard Fulkerson - his brother - and John Blanchard. Blanchard lifted tlie wheel with Richard Fulkerson on it; Richard Ftilkerson raised it with Blanchard on it, and James Fulkerson raised it with both Richard Fulkerson and Blanchard on it, both being heavy men. These three men were raised to pioneer life, and had cultivated muscle from childhood.

So far this sketch has been limited to the time x>i'f'- ceding the year 1820, but now will give a statement of the origin, and acts of the Regulators so far as Pope county was concerned. In the year 1842 a man named Henry Sides came to the country from Tennessee and located a few miles southwest of Eddyville. He was what was called a "Carolina Dutchman," was honest and simple, and had no fear of the dishonesty of others. He owned sixteen or eighteen slaves, and thinking that he ought not to leave them in slavery at his death, having no children, he knew, in that case, they would be scattered, and families broken up, so he resolved to manumit tli(;m during his life.

As the laws of Tennessee forbade the act of manumission there, he came to Illinois, where he could carry out his philanthropic plan. As some of his slaves had married with others, owned by other persons, he, before leaving Tennessee, purchased such as had husbands or wives owned by him, so as not to disturb the family relation then existing, and brought them with him, and liberated them on the same terms that he did those that he owned before. This shows the principles by which he was governed. Mr. Sides entered land, built him a home, and houses for his colored wards, gave them their free- dom, and gave bonds according to the then existing laws on the subject, and all lived on the same farm, he managing for them, and working as hard according to ability as they. A year or two later, a Mr. Dobb of Tennessee, having a number of slaves, and no family, brought his slaves out to Pope county, Illinois, and manumitted them according to law, purchased land for them and settled them on it, supplied their immediate wants, and left them under the care of Mr. Sides. Mr. Dobbs soon after died in Tennessee, and when his will was probated, it was found that he left all his estate to his ex-slaves, and appointed Mr. Sides executor of his last will. On the settlement of the estate of Dobbs there was two thousand dollars in the hands of the executor for the use of the legatees.

This amount was forwarded to Mr. Sides in silver half dollars, in two boxes of one thousand dollars each. There was no bank iu Golconda at that time, and Mr. Sides not thinking that this sum would be a temptation to persons less honest than himself, hauled the boxes to his home and hoisted them up on the loft until he could make distribution.

This sum of money, so carelessly stowed away, excited the cupidity of certain persons, who thought that what "a nigger" owned, a white man had the right to take and possess, and they formed the plan to possess themselves of the treasure. Accordingly several men, headed by the notorious Hiram - or Hite - Green, organized for that purpose. After having made some thefts of less importance to test the ability of that neighborhood to trace a thief, they in July, 1841, went at night to the house of Mr. Sides, where he and his wife, each about seventy years of age, lived alone, except a young woman, who was lame, and with clubs knocked the old couple on the head, causing insensibility, and also partially stunning the younger woman, took the boxes of treasure, bursted them open, put the silver in pillow cases and left. The younger woman was able to note their actions, as well as their numbers, but in their disguise did not recognize any one, and indeed would not have done so had they not been disguised. The only clue left, was a larg'.^ knife in a scabbard, which had been attached to its owner's clothing by a button, which coming off, the knife was laid on a box and was forgotten in the hurry of departure, and was left behind as a witness against them.

The marauders, after dividing a portion of their booty, sank the remainder in one of the ponds, of which there are many in the bottoms bordering Big Bay creek, and dispersing, kei)t themselves "shady" for a time.

The old pair were so injured that their recovery seemed more than doubtful, and Mr. Sides carried the scar on his head to his grave, while Mrs. Sides suffered the loss of an eye from the blows received. This outrage, as was to be expected, roused the whole community to hunt down the perpetrators, not so much on account of the theft, as for the brutal assault on Mr. and Mrs. Sides, who were highly respected by all who knew them

The knife, which was the only clew left, was examined by many, and among others, by Jesse Davidson, a blacksmith, who recognized it as his own make, and he knew for whom he made it. Within the next few hours, Ned Hazel, the owner, was in jail. But he proving to the satisfaction of the authorities, that he had sold the knife to Dan Hazel, was held to be innocent, but still retained in custody to prevent his telling to others the true owner of the knife and thus give them opportunity to escape. During the next night Dan Hazel wa& lodged in jail.

Then was the organization called the "Regulators" formed, with the avowed object of bringing the culprits to justice under the laws of the land, and through the legally constituted courts (if justice. Judge Lynch's authority was not invoked, , nor was unnecessary violence inflicted on any one. But the sheriff was instructed to take no bonds for the appearance of any one in custody charged with the Sides' affair. The managtment, or directory was composed of such men as Dr. Wm. Sim, Judge Wesley Sloan and William Finney - the then sheriff - James McCoy, Tliomas Campbell, with others, assisting and guards as occasion demanded. The plans were known only to the roanagc^ment until the culprits were in custody.

Dau Hazel on examination professed entire ignorance of the whole matter, and knew nothing of the knife, and as a matter of course could not tell who were the perpetrators of th(j outKige. The management felt assured that Hazel was guilty, and could name his accomplices if he would. He was promised iinmunity from prosecution, and safety to^ his person on condition that he would name his accomplices, and testify in the court to their guilt. He was threatened with Lynch law in case of his refusal, but all to no effect. He still- denied any knowledge of the Sides tragedy, and persisted in his denial.

Still satisfied of the guilt of Dan Hazel, other measures were resorted to. There were in custody several other persons who had been arrested on suspicion, and who were kept separate from Dan, and from each other. One of them would be taken out with Dan under guard at night, and taken off out of sight - but not out of hearing - and some hickories being prepared, a tree would be whipped unmercifully, while some one would beg piteously for mercy - apparently in vain. The supposed victim would then be removed and Dan conducted to the place, where he could see the worn switches and plenty of fresh ones, with the men prepared to use them, and be tied to the tree, all ready for punishment. But all in vain - Dan remained stubbornly silent so far as the Sides robbery was concerned. After all these measures proved futile, the directors held a meeting for consultation. They despaired of obtaining a confession froiv. the prisoner, and what next to do was the question to be determined. It was finally resolved to take bim, at night, out of the jurisdiction of the State, and give him all the punishment he could bear without taking his life, and then warn him to never return to the country afterward.

But the work of the Regulators was not yet done. The prisoners were to be kept in jail with a guard. The sheriff was to be sustained in his refusal to take bail for the prisoners. Unless the culprits could be brought into court for trial all their work had been in vain. It was agreed by the prisoners that if a special term of court was held for their benefit, that they would put in a plea of guilty to an indictment for the offense, and thus save them from lying in jail during the heat of the summer, and save the county the expense of keeping them. A term of court was appointed at as early a day as could be done. Juries were impaneled and Dan Hazel brought before the grand jury to give evidence as he had agreed to do, but a change had come over him, and he told the jury that he knew nothing of the matter whatever.

He was taken back to the jail and put into the dungeon with the others - ^he had been kept separate from -the others and in better quarters. Ahab Farmer, a young man of nineteen or twenty years, whose father and brothers were respectable and honest citizens, was taken out and gladly accepted the terms that had been given to Hazel. He testified before the grand jury, a true bill of indictment was returned into court, and the next day set for a hearing of the cause.

Upon being arraigned the prisoners, one and all, plead "Not guilty," and filed an aflftdavit for change of venue, and the court ordered the case to Johnson county. As the Johnson county court did not meet until late in September, and there being no special term asked for, the prisoners had to be kept over. They thought that they would be immediately removed to Vienna for safe-keeping, and hoped to escape from the jail there, and were disappointed when informed that they would remain in jail at Golconda. Then came a long term of guarding the jail, as it was not very secure, being made of logs.

The work of the Eegulators thus far had been of the nature of a "posse comitatus," more than that of an irresponsible body of citizens, but now they were necessarily to assume a more independent position, and to assume a character that in some respects was outside of the law of the land. It became necessary to maintain a strong guard around the jail, especially at night, and the expense of such. a guard being too great for the finances of the county, volunteers were received and organized. Five or six men would become responsible for a guard for one night each week, and others for each other night of the week, and each guard knew his own night for duty, and only that guard would report. Sometimes as many as thirty men would be on guard at one time.

During the interval between the special term of Pope circuit court - some two months - and the Johnson county court, a plan was laid by the fr-iends of the prisoners for their release. The town was to be fired, and during the confusion that would ensue, the jail was to be broken, and the prisoners set at liberty. Spies were sent to town at night to know the strength and watchfulness of the guard. On the west side of the county it was known just who were on guard on a given night, and on one occasion it was known what they took for their midnight lunch. The emissaries who were riding and notifying the parties, made the mistake of notifying the wrong man, who dissembled until he had as much information as he wanted, and the emissary gone, mounted his horse, and by pathways hurried to Golconda and gave notice of the game. Not many hours elapsed until that particular agent was in Golconda under a guard.

On his arrival at town a somewhat laughable - but to him humiliating - scene took place. He had some days previously been seen talking with the prisoners, and crying over their pitiable condition - he not being related to any of them - the matter was noted as being an unnecessary manifestation of feeling on his part towards such characters as they had proven themselves to be. So on his arrival in Golconda quite a crowd gathered around him, and pressing close to him, even leaning over him, began to cry over him and lament his unfortunate condition, while the crowd continued to increase and the cries became louder, and the tears more copious. The hills which rise around Golconda echoed the lamentations for quite a time. A stranger to the scene migM have supposed that some dire public calamity had befallen the place. No personal violence was offered to him, however, but after some days' detention - his father-in-law having interceded for him as of a weak constitution - he was given a coat of tar and feathers, and permitted to make his escape, since when he has not been heard from.

Others who had been ictive participants in the scheme, were arrested, and after being detained for a longer or shorter period, were permitted to leave, which they did as soon as leave was given. One, George Vanduser, who had been elected county commissioner, had manifested considerable sympathy toward the prisoners, came on the first Monday of September to take his seat with the others to transact the county business. He was waited on by a committee and advised to resign his ofBce. Eeasons were given and urged with such earnestness that he saw the force of them and acted in accordance with the advice given.

In a few instances the Eegulators departed from the main object of their organization - the Sides outrage - to arrest and confine other persons for other offenses. Some were arrested for larceny, one for passing counterfeit money, and perhaps some for minor ofl'enses. One John Nokes, who had habitually maltreated his wife, was arrested, and for want of room above, was put into the dungeon where the Sides robbers were confined and left there for a time, when his cries for help brought assistance and h^ was removed. Some shingles had inadvertently been dropped into the dungeon, and the vile wretches had improved the opportunity afforded to vent their spite on poor Nokes until he was unable to sit up for quite a time.

The prisoners believing that taking the money was the gist of their crime, and that if it was recovered they would be prosecuted with less energy, told where it was concealed; but upon search it was not found. Green said that he could find it if given the opportunity. Accordingly he was taken out under a strong guard, a distance of ten or twelve miles, and he found the money, and was conducted back to jail, much to his disgust, as he thought that opportunity for his escape would be given.

The time for holding court rolled round, and the prisoners heavily ironed, were placed in wagons, accompanied by about one hundred armed men, safely arrived at Vienna. It was expected that an attempt for rescue would be made on the route, as the way lay through that part of the county where the supposed friends of the prisoners lived - hence so strong a guard - but no demonstration was made.

The trial was bad, the prisoners were convicted and sentenced to a term in the penitentiary, and the object of the Begulators being accomplished, they disbanded the organization, and their work for good or ill, became a part of the history of the county. Four of the sis convicts died during the tei^m of their sentence, and two only, to-wit, Hite Green and William a. Hazel, returned. Hazel settled down and went to work for his living, and so far as known acted honestly and honorably, and to some extent retrieved his lost character. Not so Green, who had not reformed even outwardly, but was more cautious in his actions than before he had experience of the power and will of the law and order loving people of Pope county. He lacked one more demonstration of the wishes and determination of the people, which demonstration he received in due time.

We will follow up the history of the Regulators of Pope county with an eiJisode, which has some relation to the time of the Regulators, both in the personnel, and the character of those times.

Hiram - or Hite - Green, after completion of his term in the state's prison, returned to his old haunts. His father hf»d died in the meantime, as also his wife, an unmarried sister with his two children, liA'ed in the old. homestead. He only made the old home his headquarters, while the larger part of his time was spent in other parts.

At one time he and a '"pal" remained longer than was usual at headquarters, and from their actions the people were satisfied that they were planning some evil scheme to be carried out, or were in hiding for some crime already committed. They made nu attempt to mingle with the citizens surroundinij them, so far as known, spent their days and portions of the night in the swamps adjacent to the creek, and a pa.-t of the night at the old home, for learning any news, and to lay in supplies. It was thought by some that to prevent crime was better than to punish it after it was done. A meeting was privately called at an out-ofthe-way place to consider the matter. At the place appointed sixty or seventy persons met who lived near the place of rendezvous. On consulting together, some one announced that parties in Golconda had stated to him that if the two men were put into their hands they would see that they should trouble the country no further.

It was argued by some that the only thing to do was to capture the men and deliver them. There was in the assemblage a magistrate who told them "no." That if there was any one in the crowd who could file the necessary aflSdavit he would issue a warrant for their arrest, and that they must proceed orderly, and according to law. A man came forward and truthfully filed the aflBdavit. A warrant was issued, and there being no constable convenient, the magistrate appointed a special constable, who immediately summoned the whole company to assist him in making the arrest.

The company acting under orders, were divided into squads and their course indicated. The result was that the parties were found, run down and captured in a short time, were taken to town and no one caring to receive them, they were turned loose to go where they pleased.

Green and the other were loud in their threats against all concerned in the matter, but especially against the party who had run them down and captured them. This continued until it was thought best to ignore it no longer.

A private meeting was held for consultation at which the eight young men who had captured the two men were present, together with two or three men of age who were called in to counsel them. After hearing the different opinions advanced, the old men asked them if they believed from their knowledge of the men that their lives were in danger, and that an opportunity would be sought to secretly kill them. On their answering in the affirmative, the old men gave them their opinion.

This meeting being held after night, the eight who had been threatened, repaired to the old Green homestead and secreted themselves within sixty yards of the house to wait for the appearance of the men sought for. Some time in the nighi tiiey were seen to approach the house from the other side from where the ambush was laid. It had been agreed by the party that when the men sought for should be in gunshot, that all should bring their guns to bear upon the game, and wait until one who was designated, should fire hisi piece, then all should fire as quickly as possible. The one selected to fire wa« so chosen because his gun was sure fire.

About one o'clock in the morning the moon rose, and about two o'clock the men left the house from the front and came within forty yards of the ambuscade, when the man with the sure fire gun, sighted his piece on Green and pulled trigger, when the cap bursted without discharging the gun. The two men sprang like hunted deer, while a rattling volley followed them, doing, however, no damage, so far as known.

Before sunrise the two men were at the Brooklyn ferry, without coats or hats and very anxious to cross the river. They were detained, however, until a runner was sent to know if they were wanted. The reply was to set them across the river. Since that time if Green has been back in his old haunts it has been secretly. Nothing certain is known of him siuce, but it was reported that during the war he headed a band of guerillas, and was killed during some of his predatory excursions. From the known character of the man Green, the report was deemed to be true.

This statement is now for the first time given to the public, the more freely that all of those who actively participated in the matter have passed to that bourne from whence no traveler has ever returned. And, perhaps, there is but one person living who was cognizant of all the facts as they occurred.

from Golconda with a family of four children, aged from ten years upward, and lived a quiet, peaceable life, and won the respect of his white neighbors, so far as colored men received the respect of whites in those days.

Some time in the year 1843, a raid was made in the night upon Elijah and his children were carried off by parties who were unknown. The alarm was given by the father before light, and such endeavors were made to trace them up by the neighbors as were thought necessary, but without the least success. The kidnappers had covered their tracks pretty effectually. Certain parties were arrested on suspicion, and witnesses were examined who were supposed to have knowledge of the matter, but without avail. The witnesses disdained any knowledge of the matter, and as a result the prisoners were released. It now appeared that the guilty parties would escape punishment due them for their crime. Some efforts were quietly made by certain parties to find the abducted children and restore them to their father. It was evident that there could be but one object in view by the kidnappers, and this limited the search to the slave-holding states.

After a time such information was received that led to the conclusion that the children were on the farm of a Mr. Dorsey in the state of Mississippi. Mr. William Ehodes, who was then the sheriff of the county, accompanied by Elijah, went to see them and if the information proved true, to recover them and bring them home if possible. On reaching the farm of Mr. Dorsey they informed him frankly of their business, and inquired if he had about that time purchased such children as were described to him. He admitted the purchase of such children, and thought that he had a good title to them, having purchased in good faith, but that if he was deceived, he would upon suflScient proof give up the property.

In answer to inquiry he stated that the children were at that time out on the farm, hoeing cotton. Mr. Rhodes then made him this proposition: They three would walk out through the field near where the children were working, and if they were the children of Elijah, he, Ehodes, thought that they would recognize him, and they would certainly know their father. And if such recognition did not occur, he should lay no claim to them, but should they know them, Mr. Dorsey should surrender them to their father.

This proposition was accepted, and the three persons went out to the farm where the children were engaged at work. They Avalked slowly, pausing here and there, as though examining the growing crop, and went so as to pass near the children without going directly to them. While yet at some distance from the children, they could see that they were observing them, and when they were nearer - Elijah being in the rear - one of the children called out, "La! yonder comes Mr. Rhodes, yes and papa, too!"

And dropping their hoes, the children came running to them at their utmost speed. Mr. Dorsey said that he was satisfied, and would not contend against the eyidence so brought before him, but that the old man should have his children restored to him, which was done, and Mr. Ehodes returned home with his charge, the father and children.

Mr. Dorsey having shown Ehodes his title to the "property," he found that he had a bill of sale for the children, according to the laws of Mississippi, "in such cases made and pro vided," which was signed by William H. Vaughn, who was known to Rhodes, and was at that time a resident of Pope county.

This Vaughn was a man who bought the tract of land on th'^ Ohio, at the mouth of Big Bay creek, known as Bayfield. He was a man of considerable means, ajad nothing was known of his antecedents, but from his constant watchfulness, and his "armed occupation," coupled with his entire silence in regard to his previous life and place of residence, he was thought to have been a member of some of those bands of pirates who had infested the Gulf coast some years before. He kept a saloon sometimes at Bayfield, and for a time at Golconda.

While at Bayfield he was often visited by men who, so far as his neighbors knew, had no business relations with him, and who were entirely unknown, but who would come and go at irregular intervals, which perhaps gave rise in part, to the suspicions in regard to his former life. He also had a gun in his possession, which was of a kind unknown to the citizens around him.

This gun was one and a half to two inches in the bore, the barrel was about three feet in length, and there was an extra trigger underneath, and upon pulling it, a long dagger or spear, would fly out and stand fixed from the muzzle of the gun like a bayonet. Vaughn would only say of it, that he "would not like to be where it had been."

On lying down to sleep, he laid two pistols on a table near his bed, and kept a rifle and shot gun in reach where he iuy. Such was Wm. H. Vaughn. At the May, 1844, term of the Pope circuit court, the grand jury called this Vaughn before them to state from whom he procured the children whom he had sold to Dorsey. He hesitated, and after admitting that he knew the parties, declined to testify. On being brought before the court, and the court having plainly pointed out to him ths consequences of a persistent refusal to answer the question, he stated that he feared to make the parties known. Ho was assured by the court of protection. He said that he did not fear personal violence, as that he could meet, but that he had a "reputation" - God save the mark - which would be assailed, and in that regard the court could give him no adequate protection.

Of course the court could not entertain his plea for a moment, and he was returned to the grand jurj' room, where after reflecting for a time he announced his willingness to answer such questions as the jury should ask him. He stated to the jury that he receiAed the children on a bill of sale, and that they were delivered to him by Joshua Handly, Peyton Gordon, Caleb Slankard and John Simpkins of Pope county, and Joe Lynn and Hiram Campbell of Massac county. The parties were indicted, warrants were issued for the arrest of the parties, and delivered to the sheriff in the afternoon, and before daylight the next morning Handly and Gordon were lodged in jail, Slankard was brought in early in the day, and

Simpkins at a later hour. Lynn and Campbell came in voluntarily with their bail, and were not committed to jail. Within ten dayej after this William H. Vaughn was dead, and every one on being informed of his death, asked who killed him. His death was caused by apoplexy, and there being no other witness against the prisoners, they were discharged from custodv.

Part Ii

Robert Wilson McCartney, descended from John McCartney and wife, nee Jean Brown, both Scotch people who emigrated to the "Western Eeserve" in 1838 or '9. He was born near Warren, Trnmbull county, Ohio, March 19, 1843. At six his parents took him to Eastbrook, Pa., where his mother died in his tenth year after which the family moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where Robert worked steadily in the Woolen mills until the war broke out. In youth he attended the public schools. After the war he graduated at Duif' s Business College, Pittsburg, attended a course of law lectures at Cleveland, came to Illinois and was admitted to the bar in 1868.

At eighteen, ho enlisted as a private. Sixth Ohio Cavalry, was aide to General Sickles at Gettysburg and was almost fatally wounded in the shoulder as he carried orders to Geueral Ellis. For two days and nights he lay helpless on that historic field when he was discovered and carried to the hospital at Harrisburg. Partially recovered, he was assigned to clerical duty for the provost marshal. When sutficieutly recovered he was coramis-'sioned Captain of Company I, Eightythird A'olunteer Infantry, and sent at once to join the army of the Potomac. Passing through the hard fought battles of this campaign and witnessing Lee's surrender, he took part in the "Grand Review'' to be later mustered out at Harrisburg,

In the events of his life among us, we are more interested. Coming to MetropoiiSj he associated with his brother, Captain J. F. McCartney in the publication of "The Promulgator" - ^the legal progenitor of the Journal Republican, and was also his law partner. He A\as also associated with William Towle in operating the enormous Towle Saw Mills, later selling out to Mr. Towle that he might practice law, which was more congenial to his taste.

An elegant brick residence, and the commodious Julian Hotel were built by him. The one ambition of his life was to erect a modern brick Music Hall containing a library and reading room. In this laudable design he succeeded before his death and left in his will a provision stipulating that the rooms should not only be perpetually used for public reading and library rooms, but also made flOO payable to the library trustees upon settlement of his estate, which provision his estimable wife has seen fulfilled. The library, organized first as an association, was named the R. W. McCartney Library, and later passed under the control and support of the city. He was a moving spirit in the organization and operation of the First National Bank of Metropolis, later becoming its president.

Politically, Mr. McCartney was a staunch Republican and attained eminent success. Elected city attorney, he was promoted to county judge in 1873, serving for nine years; in 1882, he was a member of the General Assembly, and in 1885 his I)arty elected him circuit judge. He served with distinction, and could have been re-elected but for failing health and extensive business interests. In his social life he was a respected member of the Grand Army, an honored Odd Fellow and a loyal Mason. In religion, he affiliated with the Methodists, for years a trustee of that influential body. All the fraternal bodies participated in his funeral.

AVilliam Priestly and John - the latter dying in infancy. October 18, 1871, Mrs. McCartney died, and March 19, 1873, he was married to Miss Julia Scofleld, the amiable daughter of Eev. Scofield, an eminent Presbyterian minister. From this union Eobert W. and Jean Elizabeth were born, the former dying while young. Miss Jean, born March 6, 1878, graduated from the Metropolis High School as valedictorian of the class of '94, received her diploma from the famous Western Female Seminary, Oxford, Ohio, June, '98, and entered Chicago University to take a classical course. Unfortunately by a fall, precipitating fatal complications, her young, brilliant and promising life was ended in Chicago Feb. 17, 1899. In one more year she would have returned home with honors from the great university, but instead tender, loving and sympa thizing hands placed her to rest beside her father. Over their graves the widow has lately erected the finest monumnt in Massac county. She quietly resides in the family home in Metropolis, carrying out the wishes and revering the memory of her esteemed husband and lamented daughter and doing what she can to advance the interests of the community.

Samuel Atwell

Captain Samuel Atwell's grandfather was a native of Maryland, early moved to North Carolina, thence to Barren county, Ky., and engaged in farming. Thomas Atwell, the father, was born in Maryland, Jan. 24, 1789, reared in Kentucky, and married "Nancy Harlow. She was born in Kentucky, 1800, descended from Revolutionary ancestors, and died in Massac county, August, 1851, leaving ten children.

Thomas Atwell and wife moved to Harrison county, Ind., 1832, landed at Brooklyn, 111., in a flat boat March 1, 1849, and farmed near that place until his death Aug. 18, 1862.

Samuel Atwell, his son, was born December, 1834, in Harrison county, Ind., attended the primitive schools, taught school, 1855 to '59, and at eighteen was converted in the Keg- ular Baptist church. He spent '59 and '60 in Shurtleff College, Alton, 111., began preaching in '61 and enlisted, the same year, a private in Company A, 56th Illinois Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant in '62, and made captain the same year. Corinth, Vicksburg, Missionar^y Ridge, Atlanta, Savannah and Bentonville were fields of his active service. From Chattanooga to Atlanta his regiment was rear guard. He saw Columbia burn, was in the grand review and retired commissioned Major in '65. He was discharged at Little Rock, Aug. 12, 1865, and returned to the walks of peace with honor.

His impaired health necessitated the open air of the farm during the latter part of '65 and the spring of '66. In the spring of '66 he sold his farm near Brooklyn, moved to that plac(; and resided there until the spring of '67, when he moved to Metropolis to assume the duties of sheriff, to which he had been elected. In 1869 he was elected county clerk, serving two terms at the close of which, impaired health forced him to spend two months in Oregon and two years in Auburn, Cal., where he purchased a home. Disposing of his home he returned to Metropolis in 1881 to be elected county clerk for the third timf! in 1882, which office he has held continuously ever since, with perhaps the longest record of any county clerk in Illinois. Most of the time he has had no opposition for his party nomination and no opposition in the general election. He has always been a staunch Republican and a minister of the Baptist church, standing high in the councils of that large and influential body.

October 19, 1865, he was married to Miss Josephine Pell, who was born in Roseclare, Hardin county, Illinois. She was the daughter of Mitchell and Lethe (Badger) Pell. Six children have been born to them of whom three are living, George P., Lethe and William; three are dead, as follows: Samuel, died 1875; Lillian, wife of F. A. Gregory, Jan. 9, 1896, and Olive, wife of Fred Pfaus, Nov. 1, 1897.

Hon. D. W. Helm

The Helm family landed at Plymouth Rock, drifted to Virginia, thence to Georgia, from there to Tennessee, and then successively to Kentucky and Illinois. Thomas, the brother of Robert, accompanied his father from Tennessee on several visits with the Kentucky branch of the family before he carrn^. to Illinois.

Prominent' has been attained by members of the family. Captain Thomas Helm, great grandfather of Robert A. Helm, was slain at Guilford Court House during the Revolution; Captain Cowden, the maternal great grandfather of Robert A Helm, was killed in a cavalry charge during the Revolution; Thomas Helm is called the pioneer of Elizabethtown, and is the head of the Kentucky branch to which John L. Helm belonged, and who was governor of Kentucky; Captain Leonard Helm waf; the trusted lieutenant of Colonel Clark on his famous (-expedition to Kaskaskia, and was at the Fort Dearborn massacre.

Douglas W. Helm attended the common schools, a summer normal at Vienna, 111., one year at the Southern Illinois Normal University, Carbondale; graduated in the Bloomington Law School, 1883, and stood first in the Junior and fourth in the Senior work. He taught several terms and was admitted to the bar in 1883, forming a partnership with J. C. Courtney, his preceptor, April, 1884.

Hf- has been twice elected city attorney, three times state's attorney of Massac county, and was appointed trustee of the Southern Illinois Normal University by Governor J. R. Tanner, which commission he now holds.

April 13, 1884, he and Miss Mary, daughter of Henry C. Howell of Johnson county, were married. Their family is composed of Roy R., born Sept. 25, 1886; Lloyd L., born Sept 27, 1890; Herbert, born Aug. 13th, 1894.

Fraternally, Mr. Helm has served as Noble Grand of Massac Lodge No. 442, 1. O. O. F. ; Chancellor Commander of Orestes Lodge No. 268, K. P.; Worshipful Master of Metropolis Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M.; and Generalissimo of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, Knights Templar. He has many friends and his future is bright. Politically he is intensely Republican.

John W. Evers

John A. Evers, the father, was of Pennsylvania, moved to Kentucky, taught school, farmed, bought fully 500 acres near Boaz Station, sold the same and came to Massac, 1858, bought the Barfleld farm, and died October, 1868. Miss Cynthia Brookshire was of North Carolina, moved to Kentucky, eloped on horseback with John A. Evers to Captain Williamson's, Massac county, and was married, but returned to Graves county, Kentucky. She died Sept. 30th, 1865.

John W., being the tenth, and all reached maturity. Our subject was born Dec. 3, 1848 in Graves county, Ky., attended the common schools, enlisted, 1863 in Fifty-eighth Illinois, but father claimed him, and enlisted in August, 1864, Company 0, First Kentucky Cavalrj', being mustered out March 20, 18C5.

He returned home, gave his father the money and labored on the farm till his father died, and a single sister could be educated to teach. He went west and for two years was a "cowboy." Returning home he hauled the lumber with an oxteam to build the first house in New Grand Chain, 111. He also clerked for J. W. Gaunt of that place and for him was overseer of the construction force, building the "Big Four" Eailroad near there.

On July 5, 1874, he married Miss Quinnie E., daughter of Robert Jett. She was born March 8, 1858, near Woodville, Ky. His health failing, they moved on the farm purchased by Mr. Evers, and he sold it to Dr. H. Y. Mangum, went to Woodville, Ky., raised two large tobacco crops, moved to Fayetteville. Ark., opened a grocery and queensware store, sold out and clerked for purchaser until he went to Eureka Springs, Ark. Here he built the first hotel, "The Mountain House," and prospered. He went to Scligman, Mo., and opened the "Trim House." From here he went to Carthage, Mo., and 1S83 he oame to Metropoiis, but soon returned to' Missouri. The next year he located in Metropolis, teaming for seven years.

Mayor Rankin appointed him marshal of Metropolis, 1 886, and he was elected constable. R. C. Barham, sheriff of Massac county, appointed him deputy, and Green W. Smith, Barham's successor, retained him for his efficiency. In 1898 the Republicans nominated and elected him sheriff, which oflSce he now holds, administering its functions with competency, and satisfaction to the public. He is a Methodist and a Mason.

Four children compose their family, three girls: Mrs. Myrtle Davis, wife of Albert Davis, born Sept. 13, 1876, McCracken county, Ky. ; Carrie, born April, 1878, and deceased; Robbie, born March 8, 1880, Fayetteville, Ark.; one son, Morris Jett, born Dec. 20, 1895, Metropolis, 111., and a favorite with the father.

Colfax Morris

Colfax Morris, circuit clerk of Massac county, was born in this county, April IC, 1866, and attended the common schools, spending his early life on the farm.

His father, James H. Morris, Sr., is a native of Kentucky, born in Livingston county, March 11, 1824. His grandfather was a friend of Daniel Boone during the "dark and bloody days," and the family came to what is now Massac county in 1833. June the 8th, 1843, his father married Miss Lucinda Little, a native of Massac county, born Jan. 22, 1825, and both parents are yet living in Metropolis.

On the 1st day of August, 1888, Mr. Morris married Miss Fannie E. Oakes, daughter of John W. Oakes, a leading farmer of the county. She was born April 24, 1871. They have two children living - Leonard Seward and Cleo - two bright children, full of sunshine for the home.

As a member of the state militia, Mr. Morris was also a member of the "Illinois Eifie Team," which annually contested on the rifle range with Ihe "crack teams" of four other states for the medal to be given for the highest average score. Illinois always won and Mi-. Morris always excelled. In a twodays' shoot at Fort Sheridan, he easily won the Chicago Herald's $100 medal over every competitor from the militia and regulars. Of this medal he is very proud.

Always a Republican and active, he has wielded his influence, and was appointed deputy circuit clerk by Captain S. B. Kerr in 1892. Although young, he learned to readily do the work rapidly and efficiently, so that he was elected clerk in 1896. Under his administration the office for the first time in its history, is not only paying its way, but returning a handsome balance into the county treasury. He has made an excellent official and his friends are many. March 17th, 1900, he was renominated without opposition and elected by an increased majority, Nov. 6, 1900.

Mr. Reynolds was born in Massac county, April 1, 1856. His father, John Eeynolds, came from Virginia, and his mother, Annie Yates, was an Ohioan. They were married after meeting in Massac county and their lives were spent on a farm in Washington precinct.

Joshua attended the common schools, in youth, labored on the farm and spent two years in the log camp in Perry county, Tenn. He attended the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, in 1878, and began teaching, conducting his two first schools in Union county, since which time he has been intimately associated with the educational interests of his native county. In 1890 the Eepublican party nominated and elected him county superintendent and re-elected him in 1898. He is now conscientiously and ably performing the duties of his office.

boys, William J., Orval J., Harold, Rohama L., and Leonard Earle; one sweet girl, Cornelia Alma, also has blessed their union. Mr. Reynolds and wife are both members of the Baptist church and model citizens.

Judge George Sawyer

Amos Sawyer, George's grandfather, was Irish, born in England. He emigrated to New Hampshire, where William Sawyer, father of George, was born, 1827. He came to Illinois while young and leaxned the blacksmith trade. He enlisted in the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, Company G, in 1861, did good service, and was discharged on account of disability contracted in line of duty, 18G2, returned home, entered business and accumulated a competency. He married Theodosia Monroe of Pope county, who was a Virginian of Irish blood. They had but one child, George, born in Metropolis, Sept. 1, 1861, bearing the strong personality of his mother. January, 1864, Mr. Sawyer died, leaving the widow and son with plenty, which was all lost through a faulty title, leaving them penniless. December 18th, 1865, his mother died.

For three months' labor during his ninth year he received f8.20; during the tenth year he earned |9.00 and labored six successive years for Mr. Woolbridge. Ten months in the common schools and three months at the Metropolis Seminary covers his actual attendance on school. During spare moments he read grammar, logic, and moral science in the field. He walked five miles to borrow a history of Home. At nineteen he began teaching, which he continued for four terms. From 1884 to 1890 he read law as opportunity afforded, being admitted in the latter year. The judge gave him his first case - the defense of a man indicted for burglary, who was acquitted. Today he ranks with the best lawyers.

He was married to Lydia Barham Jan. 31, 1892, who is the daughter of ex-Sheriff R. C. Barham, bom Dec. 24, 1871. To them was born one son, Robert James, Nov. 14, 1892, who

Mrs. George Sawyer

Judge Sawyer was elected city attorney of Metropolis, 1891, and 1893, compiled and supervised the publication of the city ordinances. In 1894 he was elected county judge and reelected without opposition. He loves the bench and a merited promotion awaits him. Republicanism is his creed and he ably defends it in each campaign.

Prof. William M. Priestly

Prof. Wm. M. Priestly, "the father of the public schools of Massac county," was born in New Jersey, 1816, apprenticed for a term to a coachmaker of Philadelphia, who early discovered the lad's eagerness for mathematics and elocutionary talent, and sent him to a night school and added a half day at free school. At twenty he had mastered his trade and also bookkeeping, being called to manage his nucleus extensive wholesale cotton and merchandise establishment In Mississippi.

Later a partner, he was stationed at an Indian reservation in Mississippi, learned their dialects and was induced to master Latin, which he did without assistance. In 1839, he married Mary Virginia Walker, favorite niece of Gen. Winfleld T. Scott. Revolting at the foulness of slavery, accompanied by his father-in-law, David Walker, moved to "Egypt," and settled in Massac county - Walker settling in Johnson county. After one year he removed to Johnson county, 1854, built the court house and several other buildings still standing in Vienna.

In 1865 he was chosen superintendent of the Metropolis xiitj schools, serving until 1870; was postmaster until 1874, and was elected county superintendent of Massac county for several terms, virtually founding the public schools, and developing such wondterful talent that his annual institutes drew educators from distant counties, and left an impress upon our

He was master of the art of reading, and the mother tongue; fair-minded, kind-hearted and firm. He was a perfect disciplinarian, who won by the rule of duty and honor and impressed both pupil and parent, that he was their friend, and his school a workshop for "now" and "eternity." He was an earnest Methodist and an honored and exalted Mason. In 1887, his health failing, he moved to Lane county, Kan., dying Oct. 18, 1895, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, Trigo county, Kan. Many of our citizens cherish his memory, and "to know him was to count a friend."

In the wilds of Johnson county, amid the redmen, the parents of Robert Green B. McKee settled in an early day. Here their son was born Jan. 22, 1819, twenty -three years before Massac county was formed.

The lad farmed and attended subscription schools, early developed a business talent, worked on a flat-boat and trading boat, clerked in Metropolis, purchased a flat-boat, made two trips down the river, purchased a stock of goods and sold them, and in every transaction made money.

In 1879 he retired for some time from a long business life in general merchandising, but later re-entered a successful like career, amassing a fortune. He always participated in every effort to build up the city and was a charter member of the First National Banking flrm, being one of its first directors.

Mr. McKee was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Sheets of Metropolis, after whose death he was united in marriage Aug. 24, 1879, to Miss Henrietta Delavan, amiable daughter of Judge Delavan, an able lawyer, bom in Virginia, who for eight years was county judge of Massac county, and who died in 1881. Her aged and respected mother still lives at Metropolis. Mr. McKee and wife, Henrietta, had two bright children, the older a daughter, EfiQe Myrtle, now a graduate from the Department of Music of tlie Soutliem Illinois Collegiate Institute, is an accomplished pianist. The younger, a son, named in honor of his lamented father, Robert Green B., is budding into youth, a bright lad of brilliant prospects.

Not until late in life did our subject unite with any church. Warring creeds always kept him aloof until he became a charter member and prime mover in the organization of the Congregationalist church in Metropolis, which received his prayers and most careful consideration during its early life until his death, Nov. 9, 1892. Although a self-made man, Mr. McKee was broad-minded, talented, industrious, honest, devout and prosperous.

James E. Go wan, M. D., was born in Madison county, Tenn., Oct. 31, 1841. His father William, was of South Carolina, and his grandfather was a Scotchman of Edinburg. William, a hatter, and John, his brother, early emigrated to South Carolina. William Gowan married Judith Adkisson, a native Scotch lady, who had come to America. They, in a colony, moved to Madison county, Tenn., cleared a farm and lived upon it till their death, he at the age of 115 years, and she at 97. Their son, William Granville, was born in South Carolina. He inherited a large farm on which he yet lives. He married Miss Eveline Wood of Scotch-Irish ancestry.