McDonough County, Illinois - Chapter 37: Reminiscences, 1878

Recollections of John Wilson. - Until 1828, when I was married, I cannot say that I ever had a home. On the thirtieth da}' of October, 1828, I was married to Martha R. Vance hy Elder John Logan, with whom I jet live.

When I commenced farming I had one horse and three cows. The first year I broke my land with a Barshire plow, a wooden aflair. I borrowed a wagon from AVilliam Moore, whe was jnst from Georo-ia. He went crazv soon afterward and was taken back by his friends. After this I made a wagon myself entirely of wood, the wheels of which were made solid and hewed ont of a large tree. There being no iron about it, I had to keep it well soaped to keep it from being set on fire by the friction. I now had three calves, two of which I yoked together, and the third harnessed and used as a leader. AVith them I done my plowing, and hitched them to my wagon and done all my hanling of wood and rails, they being able to draw ten or twelve rails to the load. This wooden wagon I used for several years, going to mill with it and doing all my hauling.

What little education I have I got after I was married. I got a United States spelling-book and a primer, and at night, while my wife was spinning, I would throw a quantity of brush upon the fire, having first placed in the fireplace a large back-log, and lying down on the floor, by the light given, I would study. I would do this after having worked hard all day mauling rails and other work. In this way I soon mastered my speller and primer and then took up the Bible, reading it through twice, when I thought myself able to read anything. By the same course of study I obtained a little knowledge of geography and arithmetic.

Game was very abundant in the early times, and wild animak Averc not uncommon, such as wolf, wildcat, fox, lynx, badgers, and even the black bear. Deer were very plentiful. The strength and powers of endurance of this animal are wonderful indeed. I once shot and crippled one, when the dogs attacked it and fought it a long time, until I got in another shot, when it jumped about twenty feet away from the dogs that were holding it, and fell dead. One morning I heard my dogs barking and went to see what was the matter, when I discovered they were chasing a little fawn. I caught it and carried it in my arms to the house, where it grew up as a pet. One day some strange dogs came around, and, frightening it, caused it to break one of its legs. I tied it down for the purpose of fixing it, when it endeavored to get away. At last it gave a powerful leap and actually pulled itself in two, thus killing itself.

I have an old flint-lock rifle, one I traded lor when I first came to the countv. It was then an old ffun and had done much service, but still to-day it is in as good order as it ever was, and as true as the modern breech-loader. As I roamed the wild forest, often this gun was my only companion, and it was always faithful. Many are the excitings incidents that could be related in connection with it. xV short time ago one of little grandsons desired to see me shoot it. To please the boy, I took the faithful old gun from its hook on the wall, and, as was my custom nearly ii half century ago, I threw it across my shoulder and started forth for game. We soon spied a squirrel in a tall oak. I took aim itnd fired. Though my hand was not so steady or my eye so keen as it used to be, I brought the little animal to the ground.

I well remember quite an exciting fight I had with a lynx, one winter. During the day a good sized calf had died, and that night it snowed. "While but doing chores the next morning, I noticed some tracks near the carcass of the calf which I supposed were made by a panther, knowing it must be somewhere near by. I called my dogs that they might trace it, but when they came they refused to go near it. I then went over to Vances after a couple of hounds which were glad enough for a fight, and soon had the animal treed ; it was as large as a gray wolf and resembled one. I got mj^ old flint lock and determined to have a fight. I shot its paw a time or two but it would not jump down from the tree. I then shot it in the head knocking it down. The dogs would run up to it and each time would have great pieces of flesh torn from their bodies bj' the savage animal. I thought I would help the dogs, so I got a club and waded in, when the Ij-nx, dogs and myself had a lively battle, but we were too much for it, and at last killed it. For many years I kept the skin of this fierce lynx that had fought so hard for its life.

Accommodations in Macomb in those early days were not so o-reat as thev are now. Wm. Shannon and myself were once summoned to attend court as witnesses, and when we arrived, the houses were all full and we could get no place to stop. AVe were compelled to go out of town a short distance, and crawl under a hay stack to sleep during the night.

I used to raise large fields of cotton and we made all the cotton goods we used. I also raised fiax, which we spun and wove and made into goads. AVe didn't buy many "store goods" then.

Salem ^VootW Reminiscence - To give some idea of the of the manner in which the early settlers reached this county, traveling over the almost boundless prairies and through the wild woods, I will relate my own experience.

I left Erie county, Pa., May 28, 1828, and came to Terre Haute, Ind., intending going to Vandalia, then the capital of the State of Illinois. "While in a store in Terre Haute, I met the Captain of a boat who told me he would take me to Tincennes, if I would work my passage. While Yincennes was no nearer Vandalia than Terre Haute, the country was better settled, and I decided to accept his ofler. Arriving at YincenLes, I at once started on foot to Yandalia, traveling one day thirty miles and passing but one house. At the capital I called upon the State Auditor and told him I wanted to pay my taxes on a quarter section of land, the same I now own and on which I have lived for forty-seven years. He asked me if I had any State paper, when I answered that I had nothing but silver. My taxes were one dollar and sixty cents. He took one half of a three dollar bill, telling me to add ten cents to it and it would settle the bill. This he let me have for seventyfive cents. I therefore paid my taxes for eighty-five cents.

Being very anxious to reach McDonough county, I started from Vaudalia late in the afternoon thinking to stop at a house I was informed was only six miles on the road. This house I reached just before sundown, where I found the woman sick and was refused admittance. I then had to trudge on six miles to the next house, endeavoring to make it in as short a time as possible. The night was very dark and a thunder storm came up and in a short time I was drenched to the skin. By the lightning's flash I noticed a point of timber some distance ahead, and reaching it gave several yells, thinking it possible some one might live there. I received no answer, and would feign have stopped there for the night, but was afraid to on account of the wolves, which were then in great numbers. I passed on, crossing a creek and coming to another open prairie, and after traveling some distance I was met by a pack of dogs. I called loudly for some one to take off the dogs, and my call was answered by a man, who kindly took me in. I asked for some bread, but this they did not have, and for a supper I had a bowl of milk. I then lay down on the floor in my wet clothes and slept soundly during the remainder of the night. In the morning I was directed to Beard's Ferry, now Beardstown, where I intended to cross the Illinois river. There was but one house there at that time, although the town had been laid out. I came out into Schu3'ler county, where, on Sunday, I met several people going from Church. Of them I enquired of certain lands, telling the township, range and section. One of the party spoke up and said that he hail the adjoining farm. This was "William Pennington, who now lives in Emmet township, and who had come down to mill and was compelled to wait several days for his grist. lie directed me on to Carter's settlement, where I met for the first time Elder John Logan, the pioneer preacher. From this settlement I passed on to hunt my land, intending to stop at AVilliam Pennington's. ( )n arriving near where I thought the place ought to be, I could find no house, no path, or any signs of life, until after a long search I heard a rooster crow. This led me to Mr. Pennington's house, which was then the only one in the township. I found my laud beautifully located near the timber, which I thouglit would soon be cut away.

me I would work for him as many days as he should be gone . from home. lie accepted my ofier and we started out, having / plenty of " corn dodgers" and pork to take along. Southwest of' the present town of Macomb we came on to a number of wigwams, from which the Indians had vacated but very recently. AVe crossed Crooked creek, where Bacon's mill was afterwards built, West of Macomb, after passing through the timber, which but few white men had ever trod, we came to a large prairie. Here w halted and could see nothing beyond. I told Mr. Pennington i was no use to go further, as I did not want the land thus situated. So we retraced our steps and arrived at the home of Mr.| Pennington the next evening. I thought it a beautiful country, but not enough timber to fence even a small portion of the vast, prairie.

Some years after this I carried eight bushels of wheat to Bacon's mill, on Crooked creek, to get ground, but on account of low water I was unable to get my grist. I came up from home after it two or three times, and still failed to get it. Being out of flour, I took my wheat to EUisville, in Fulton county, and finding so many teams here before me, I knew my chances were poor, so I took my eight bushels of grain on to Rushville, where, after waiting a considerable length of time, 1 succeeded in having it ground. At EUisville I met two four-horse teams all the way from Burlington, Iowa, and, like me, they had to go on to Rushville to have their grain ground. Such experience as this would terrify the modern farmer, but they are only a specimen of what the early settler had to undergo.

Silas J. Creel's Reminiscences. - In 1838 I settled on a piece of Congress land, which was said at the time not to be in market. It was located in what was called the " Lost Township. " I built a house and cultivated' a portion of the land, thinking I would soon be entitled to a pre-emption. Some years after Congress passed a new pre-emption act, in substance, that if any person, after its passage and approval, would build a house and move upon its land, shall be entitled to pre-emption. This act applied to the farm I was already living on, so that if any one, according to the provisions of this act, had erected a house upon the premises and moved into it, they could have taken it from me, a proceeding that I did not care to have done. In order that I should comply fully with the act, I must move on and build. I therefore moved ott' the place, and with my neighbors, many of whom lived a great distance, went live miles to Spring creek, cut logs, hauled them up and erected a house in one day - fourteen by sixteen feet - in which I moved with my family, in strict compliance with the very letter of the act. I then went to Quincy, tiled my claim, and in live years proved up, got my deed, and hold it to this day.

Robert L. Dark's Reminiscences. - I first came to McDonouo-h county in 1829 and with my family camped upon Camp Creek. The Indians were then still numerous in the county and often came to our cabin. My wife could not rid herself of a natural fear of the red man, and desired to return to tSchuyler county, from Avhieh we removed. To this I objected. Twice, while I was away, she packed up all our household goods, preparatory to starting, but I returned just in time to stop all such proceedings. Business again called me away, and I had no sooner lett than she again packed up, and loading the goods on the wagon, with our two little ones she started for the vicinity of Rushville. I met them a short distance from the Schuyler county line and tried to prevail on her to return, but this time without avail. ^STo amount of coaxing could make her change her mind. As "the mountain would not go to Mahomet, Mahomet would have to go to the mountain," so I went with her, and we settled near Rushville, where we lived about four vears, and as a considerable settlement had been made near the present town of Industry, I again prevailed on my wife to go with me to McDonough county, where I settled on the farm on which I now live, on section 30, Industry township. I have never regretted so doing, notwithstanding we have seen hard times, yet we believe ''all is for the best."

Martha RusseWs Reminiscences. - My father, William Pringle, moved to this county in 1830, when I was a very young girl ; but I remember the occurrences of that day very distinctly. The "big snow" of that year comes to my mind just as vividly as if it was but yesterday. It was a terrible winter, indeed. For three long months w^e could hardly stir out of our house.

My fiither settled west of Macomb, near the old cemetery ; for a barn he used his his wagon, and sheltered his horses under the broad canopy of heaven, allowing them to graze around upon the praines, they going out in the morning and home at night. Among the horses he had was one we called "Old Bill," who was as white as the driven snow. One day, while the horses were out, the prairie was discovered on tire, and soon all returned in great fear but old Bill. The tire swept by, and old Bill came in, but now his color was entirely changed, he being as black as coal, the fire having singed off every bit of his hair. By careful treatment he was saved, but ever alter this, when the smell of tire was in the air, he would scamper home in a hurry.

Peter Hale was one of our near neighbors, he living on the site of the old grave yard. Sometime in 1830 one of his little girls fell into the tire and was burned to death, and was buried near by, she being the tirst person there buried. Truman Bowen was the second. When Mr. Bowen died there could not be found lumber enough in Macomb to make his coffin, and James Clarke had to give his wagon-bed for that purpose.

About this same time a man named Thomas Morgan married a widow lady with a little girl about three years old. The liitle one had the chills and probably gave some annoyance to the man. One day he took her with him to the woods to gather blackberries, and, as he said, carried along some coals to make a tire in case a chill should come on the girl. When be returned home the little one was noticed by its mother all stained with blackberries. Examining her body, she found the inhuman wretch, her husband, had, with coals of tire, burned her body in a terrible manner, afterwards staining it with berries to hide the mark. Peter Hale took the little one to his house where she lingered about three days, when she died and was the third person to be buried in the old grave yard. The wretch was arrested, and, there being no jail at Macomb, he was taken to Pushville for safe keeping, from which he escaped and was never afterwards heard from. Thus the gallows was cheated out of a deserved victim.

The storj? of the "Lost Child," w4iich was published in Clarke's Monthly, in January, 1876, I well remember, as well as the dreadful murder of John Wilson, which occurred iu 1834.

James Jarvis's Reminiscences. - To illustrate the difficulty the pioneers had in having theirgrain ground, I will relate an incident which occurred at an early day. There were no flouring mills running in our county, and we were compelled to go to Spoon lliver, Pushville, Vermont, and other places for that purpose. William Lawyer, David Jenkins and myself took our grain to the mill at Vermont. Ou driving up I asked the miller, "What chance have we for our grinding?" lie replied, "We can do it in about three weeks." "Do you think you can do it that soon?" "Yes, if the mill don't break, I think we can." "Can we unload our grain, so as to feed?" "Well, you had better put it all in one wagon and feed in the other." "Can we drive in the lot for that purpose?" "I think you had better drive off a little ways." "Don't you think we had better go to Bcardstown or Rushville?" "You can do just as you please so far as I am concerned," and he turned his back onus and returned to his work; as independent as you please. But we were not to be bluffed off, and thought, if possible to have our grain ground in less than three weeks, so when night come, instead of going to bed, we concluded to run the mill ourselves, which we did, and had our grist all ground before two o'clock A. M. On driving oft' in the morning with our flour the men who had been waiting many days for their grist were quite indignant to see how we had got ahead of them, but, then, we were all right aud went home happy.

.7. W. Brattle's Reminiscence. - In the summer of 1832, Thomas I Adkisson, and John Gibson, from Morgan county, called on me to go out to Walnut Grove, to survey a new settlement which the}' designed to locate. We went out and surveyed the whole region of country, spending five days and camping out during the whole time. The men were greatly discouraged at the prospect, thinking there was not enougli timber in that township for the purposes of settlers, and therefore no considerable number would ever settle there; the consequences of which would be that their children would grow up without the influences of schools and meeting. They returned to Morgan county, but afterwards came back and settled in Industry township, this county, where there was more timber, and where they lived and died.

While surveying this tract of country, we found a house which had the appearance of being lately built, but which was then unoccupied. Isaac Bartlett afterwards told me he built the house in the fall of 1830, with the intention of moving in it; but having raised a crop on Spring Creek, which he desired to feed out before moving, he placed his aged parents in the new house, in order that he might hold his claim. This was in the winter of 1830-31, a winter that no old settler can ever forget, the like of which has never been experienced since. Others may probably liave told jou of some of the horrors of that long winter. It is hard to describe. The elder Bartlett and his wife were in the cabin when the snow fell. They had with tliem a cow which provided the milk for their use. When the snow ceased falling, Isaac Bartlett took his sled, and hitching a yoke or two of oxen to it, started for the residence of his parents to bring them away, but the snow was so deep he could make no headway, and night coming on, he had to await another da}-, when he again made the attempt to reach them. It was five days before he finally got through. He found liis parents without food of any kind, the cow dead, having died from hunger and cold, and his father in the act of dressing it for the purpose of eating. Having brought provisions with him, their immediate wants were supplied, and the next day all returned to Spring Creek. Such Avere some of the experiences of the early settlers in this county.

Martitia F. Harris' Reminiscences. - I was born March 20, 1814) in Adair county, Kentucky; moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830, and from thence to McDonongh county, iu the following year, 1881. Was married before leaving Kentucky, to Alexander H. Harris, who died in 1861, and had one child born while living in Sangamon county, Illinois. We moved to the county iu an ox wagon, and settled on the place where I am now living, four miles northeast of Macomb. We were very favorably impressed with the county, and thought we had a very good soil for cultivation but did not think those large prairies would ever be so thickly settled as they now are.

Our nearest neighbors were old Father Harris, who lived half a mile northeast of lis, and Joseph Smith, who lived three miles east. Land, at this time, was worth from ^1.25 to §2.50 per acre ; the same will now bring $40 to |50 per acre.

Macomb was our trading point, but it did not have the tine stores now in the place, nor did the merchants carry the stock now kept b}^ the merchants of the place.

The first sermon preached in our neighborhood was by Rev. William K. Stewart, of Macomb, a Presbyterian minister. The first couple married was James Osborne and Ruth Smith. Ruth borrowed my mother's shoes to be married in. The couple'started the next morning on toot to the infair, which was near Industry, and stopped at my father's house on their way, to see if she coul keep the shoes until after the iiifair. She was barefooted, and was carrying the shoes in her hand, and tliis on the twenty-fourth day of Xovember, 1838.

My daughter, Parthena Harris, was the first chihl born in this neighborhood, April 1, 1835. The first death was Samuel Harris, my husband's brother.

Sailing on the Prairie. - Thomas Camp, in 1849, settled near A\ here the present town of Good Hope is situated. All north of liim for many miles was one vast, unl)roken wilderness, with not a house or dwelling of any kind, and also perfectly void of timl>tr. A few winters after his settlement upon the prairie, there came a heavy fall of snow, aud upon the top of that a sleet of rain, which freezing, formed a solid crust on top, and over which a man could walk or slide. Mr. Camp thought he would have a good sleigh ride ; so taking a sled out several miles from his house, and rigging it up with quilts for sails, he jumped in, and there being a brisk northwest wind, he was soon sailing over the prairies. The wind being so strong he could not lower his sails, although in a measure he was able to direct his course, and therefore, on arriving at home, he could not stop, but run into an out-house, wrecking his prairie schooner and almost losing his life. He never tried the experiment again, although he declared it was a perfect success.