Stark County, Illinois - Chapter 17: Miscellaneous History, 1916

Chapter 17: Miscellaneous History

PUllPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER FIRST THINGS PRICES AND MAGES LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS AT TOULON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROADFOUNTAIN AV ATKINS TELLS A STORY A RESOLUTION THE FIRST

Political Campaign Indian Retaliation Hunting In Early

In the early days on the frontier, when the thvellhig usually consisted of one room and every inch of space had to be utilized to the best possible advantage, it was a common occurrence for the prudent housewife to provide some sort of receptacle for such small articles as were not required for daily use. Such a receptacle was called a "catch all." for the reason that it contained a varied assortment of little things tluit were likely to be in the way elsewhere. This chapter on ]Miscellaneous History is somewhat like the pioneer housewife's "catch all," inasmuch as it is made up of events that do not properly l)el()ng to the subjects treated in the other chapters and yet are of historic interest. In presenting these miscellaneous events some repetitions may occur, but this cannot well be avoided, and in many instances tliis repeated reference to some incident of early days will help to refresh the memory of the reader.

First Things

The first white man to settle in Stark County was Isaac B. Essex. His cabin, built in April. 1829, was the first civiliz.ed habitation, and his son, born in 1829, was the first white child born in the county. A\'ilson Smith was l)orn in what is now AVest Jersey Township the same year, a little after the Essex child.

The first death was that of a little child of David Gregory, and the first marriage was that of Harris W. ^Nliner and ^Nliss Xancy Gross, which was solemnized some time in the winter of 1831-32, while Stark was still a part of Putnam County.

Iraiiic house was the store room of Whitney Smitli at Wyoming, which was built in the fall of 1837. A small frame building or two were built at Lafayette either that fall or the following spring.

The first mill was built by Harmon Leek in 18;W or 1S:U on the Spoon River, near the road from Wyoming to Toulon. The first bridge in the county was built oxer the Spoon River in the fall of 1H:J!>. not far from Leek's ^lill.

The first postotfice was establisiied at the house of Isaac B. Essex in 18.33, but was later removed to Wyoming, and the first schoolhouse was raised on July 4, 1834. in Essex Township.

Jesse W. Heath, who opened a small store at Wyoming, was ])robal)ly the first merchant. Dr. Elii)halet Ellsworth was the first resident physician, and W. W. Drummond the first lawyer to locate in the county.

Tiie first railroads were built through the county in 1871 and the first car load of grain was shii)])ed from Toulon by Charles INIyers, who built the first grain warehouse.

The first newspaper was published in January, 1856; the first religious organization was Adam Perry's INIethodist class, which \\as formed in 183.5 ; the first camp meeting was held in the summer of 1840. and the first coal was mined in 18,).).

Much has been said in recent years about the high cost of living, but. when compared with conditions of three-quarters of a centiu'y ago, the present day citizen has no cause for complaint. From old account books kept by a merchant of McLean Covmty, 111., from 1830 to 183.5, it is learned that unbleached muslin then sold for from 20 to 30 cents per yard: cambric. 40 cents; calico, 37^2 cents; bed ticking, 40 to 7.5 cents; coffee, 25 to 40 cents per pound; tea. $1 to .$1.2.5; salt, 3 cents: sugar, 10 to 121/^ cents; nails, 121/. to 1.5 cents; tacks, 2;5 cents ])er paper: molasses, 37V2 P^i' gallon, and whisky, ;50 cents. As the conditions in McLean County and what is now the County of Stark were very nuich the same, it is fair to presume that the early settlers here paid similar i)rices for their goods. Then a tin pail holding a gallon and a hall' sold for 7-5 cents: pint tin cuj)s, 1.5 cents; and a set of six common glass tumblers, 75 cents.

On the other hand the farmer sold his wheat for from 40 to .50 cents ])er bushel; corn, 10 to 2.5 cents; potatoes, 20 to 30 cents; bacon, 3f.> to .5 cents per ]K)und; butter, 10 to 1.5 cents, and other farm pruducts in piupurtion. Not only were the prices low, but the farmer had to haul his produce several miles to market, often over roads Avhere in bad weather an empty wagon would be about all t^v() liorses could draw. Farm hands worked for from .$8 to ^12 per month and often split fence rails for 25 cents per 100. Notwithstanding the low prices they received and the high prices of most of the stuff they were compelled to buy, the farmers of Stark County kept on with their labors, improved their farms, developed the country, and in time grew sufficientlv wealthv to surround themselves with most of the comforts and some of the luxuries of modern civilization. When one stops to consider the obstacles the pioneers overcame and the results they accomplished, he cannot help but agree with Robert Burns that

Lincoln And Douglas

The year 1858 is memorable in Illinois historj^ for the joint political discussions between Abraham Lincoln, afterward President of the United States, and Stejihen A. Douglas, called by his partisan admirers the "Little Giant." The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill only four years before had opened anew the subject of slavery. Douglas had voted for the jiassage of the bill and in the debates with ]Mr. Lincoln he "met a foeman worthy of his steel." ]Many of the Stark County j^eople tried to have one of the joint discussions held at Toulon, but prior engagements defeated the plan, though the two great orators, on their way to one of their appointments, each fa\'ored Toulon with a speech.

Douglas arrived on October ,5, 1858, and was the guest of the hotel kept by B. A. Hall, which was democratic headquarters. There were then no railroads in Stark County, the "IJttle Giant" came in an open carriage, despite the rain, and was accompanied by Lieutenant- Governor Payne, of Ohio. At the hotel he was greeted by a large number of enthusiastic democrats and was Avelcomed by ]\Iartin Shallenberger in a short but appropriate address, to which ]Mr. Douglas responded briefly. After dinner he was escorted to the jjublic square, where a platform had been erected for the speaker. So dense was the crowd that some time was spent in getting through it to the speaker's stand, many crowding forward to shake Mr. Douglas' hand. Although hoarse from his long campaign and the rain was falling, he soon

The next day dawned and it was still raining; hut the republicans seemed determined to make a greater slio\vini> than the democrats had done on the day previous. At an early hour delciiations came poui-mnin t'rom every townshi]) in the county, and even from the ad.joininocounties. It could easily have been seen, by the most casual observer, that if l)ou<>las was the idt)l of the democracy, Lincoln was the popular hero of the republican party, which was still in its swaddlin<'- clothes. This vast assemblage rendezvoused on the Kewanee road, a short distance north of the town, to await the coming of the speaker. Oliver W'hitaker acted as chief marshal. Forming the people in a hollow s(iuare, he instructed them to remain silent until he gave the signal for applause. ]Mr. Lincoln's carriage approached at a moderiite gait, owing to the condition of the road, Mr. Whitaker waved his iiand and the cheer that went up was so spontaneous and deafening that the horses attached to the carriage were frightened to such an extent that the safety of the occupants of the carriage was threatened. Says JNIrs. Shallenberger: "Order being restored, the various delegations paid their resi)ects to Mr. Lincoln and the ladies on horseback, decorated with state badges, rode up. The one representing Illinois was provided with a wreath of leaves and Howers, with which it is presumed she meant to crown or encircle the man they delighted to honor, but ]Mr. Lincoln very quietly said: 'Wear it yourself, dear, they become you better than me.' "

A procession was then formed - claimed l)y many to be the largest ever witnessed in the county ui) to that time - and Mr. Lincoln was escorted to the Virginia Hotel on East ]\Liin Street. Here he declined any formal greeting and remained in his room until dinner was ready. After dinner he was escorted to the public sfpiare, where he spoke from the stand that Mr. Douglas had spoken from the day before. And, as at the Douglas meeting, the audience stood in the rain to listen to him who two years later was called to the highest office in the gift of the ])eople.

In the cam])aign of 18(50 these two men were the leading opposing candidates for the Presidency. I^incoln was elected and when the Southern States began to ado])t oi'dinances of secession Mr. Douglas laid aside all former differences of opinion and became a firm su])- porter of the administration. As a "war democrat" he gained in popularity and many of his warmest friends were the most sincere mourners when the telegraph in April, 180.5, flashed the message to the country: "Lincoln has been assassinated." In 1912 the Old Settlers' Association erected a monument upon the site of the platform from which these two great men spoke more than half a century before. The monument is described in another chapter.

The Underground Railroad

About the time of the passage of the bill known as the "Missouri Compromise" was passed by Congress in 1820, a number of persons throughout the free states began to act in concert in passing runaway negroes from one point to another on their way to Canada, where they would be beyond the reach of the Fugitive Slave Law. Such persons acted with great secrecy at first, but in a few years the operation of the system became pretty well known and was given the name of the "Underground Railroad." One of the best organized stations in the State of Illinois was the one at Galesburg, the route to which lay through Peoria and Stark counties.

Among the early settlers of Stark County were several who were oj^posed to slavery and, although they were members of church and good citizens, did not consider that they were doing wrong to violate the Fugitive Slave Law and assist the poor black refugees on their way to freedom. One of these was Rev. S. G. Wright, as the following extracts from his diary will show: "February 6. 1843 - Another fugitive from slavery came along, making tw enty-one that have passed through this settlement on their way to Canada. jMay 22, 1843 - Saturday went to Emery settlement, but found so strong an antipatliy against abolitionists that few would hear me preach, so I went on and preached at Toulon Sa])bath morning, ^lay 30 - The grand jin-y found a bill against me and my elder, W. W. Webster, for harboring runaway slaves. June 24 - Witness in case of The People vs. Cross, for harboring runaway slaves."

The last extract refei's to the case of Re\'. John Cross, who was indicted in Knox County for aiding in the escape of fugitive negroes. Before the case came to trial, IMr. Cross removed to Bureau County and a deputy sheriff was sent to arrest him and bring him back to Knoxville. jNL-. Cross not only agreed to go willingly, but also furnished his team and light wagon for the trip. Leaving Bureau County on Saturday, they reached Oliver Whitaker's. at Osceola Grove, that night and ]Mr. Cross pi'eached there the next morning. Before this he had been arrested and confined in the jail at Galesburg, but had been bailed out l)y some of his abolitionist friends. In his trial at Knoxville in 1843 he was acquitted.

Elias and Xeheniiali Wycoff came to Stark County before it was or<^ani/,e(l and settled in the Sjjoon River \"alley. not far from the I'eoria County line. They soon l)eeame identitied with the Underground Railroad and no doubt furnished aid to many a runaway slave. In one of his pioneer sketches published in the old Stark County Sentinel, ^V. H. Adams tells the following- story, as it was given to him J)y Fountain ^^'atkins, the jjrincipal actor, who was known as "the laughing abolitionist," on account of his sunny disposition:

"Some time late in the '-10s Eli Wilson brought to my place a likely young darkey, who said he had been a waiter on a Mississippi River steamboat. He stayed with us for about a week and ])layed with the boys in the woods. Some of our kind friends at Farmington sent me word one evening to push the boy ahead, as hunters were on his track. It would not answer to start that night, for it would be certain to invite pursuit. I finally concluded to wait until morning and during the night studied out a plan how the old woman and me would go visiting the next day on horseback. As the fall winds were kinder hard on the women's faces, it was no more than natural for her to iiave on a veil. So the next morning I saddled a gray team I owned and had I'eter put on one of my wife's dresses and a veil, and helped him to mount the horse with the side-saddle, just as though it was my wife. I mounted the other horse and admonished Peter not to talk unless I spoke to h.im.

"We struck out, taking a road that led in the direction of the east side of the mound, west of the Town of Klmwood. The road across the Kickapoo bottoms was lined on each side with a dense growth of high weeds and brush. AVhile in this place we saw a team coming toward us with Geoi'ge Pierce and John Daltou in the wagon. 1 had been told that Dalton had been blowing around that if he ever caught me 'i-uiming off a nigger' he would have me arrested. I pulled out to the rigiit and Peter to the left to let the wagon jiass. I said 'Good morning," and they said "(Tood morning,' but we had not gone more lielieve Foimt has a nigger with him.' Here the road made a shar]) turn, the gi'ound was soft, and didn't we ])ly the bud and let the horses go until we reached the high ground at tiie mound. Here we ])ulled rein and looked back. Not a soul was in sight. I told Pete that it was twelve miles to the next timber and we had to travel, as there Avas danger of them cusses following us.

horses, the nigger and myself. Meeting Dave Frisby, I did ni)t pretend to notice liini. hut he recognized me and said: 'IleHo Fount! How do you do:' Where are you goingf I replied: 'Just down here to find a girl: my wife is not very well.' To this Dave replied with a significant smile, 'You don't want a girl; you have a runaway somewhere in the brush and are on the hunt of something to eat. I know you, old fox, you can't fool Dave Frisby. How are the wife and babies, anj* howT I said: 'Dave, where have you been^' He replied that he was in business in Rochester, and then came back to the subject of the fugitive: 'Say, Fount, you've got a nigger hid some^\here, and don't you deny it. Do you see that house over there ^ That is where Elias AVycoff lives. I board there. He is a brother to Xehemiah WycofF, who lives just across the line in Stark County, and both are sound abolitionists.' 1 said: 'Dave, \Vycoff may be all right, but you always said it was not right to help slaves get away from their masters.' He replied: 'Fount, you know I have also always said slavery was wrong; then it is all right to set them free. Here's my hand on that.

"I knew 1 could tie to Dave, so we shook hands and I went with liini to the house. JMr. WycofF was not at home, l)ut was expected in a short time. The horses were cared for and Frisby and I went out to Pete's hiding ])lace. I gave the signal and 'the woman' steijped out. We introduced 'her' to the family and to Mr. WycofF, who said he M ould be delighted to help anyone out of bondage. Pete and I had supper and soon afterward I informed our host that 'the lady' wished to make some change in her dress. She was shown into a room and I followed. Said I: 'Pete, take ofF yovn- dress.' WycofF was somewhat surprised and asked: 'Is that a man?' I said it was. that he had on one of my Mife's dresses and that I wanted to take it home with me, because dresses were not overly plenty at our house. Peter slipped out of Ills dress and stood before us in a suit of l)roadcloth. Everybody laughed, and as soon as it was dark I started for liome, leaving the fugitive in the care of his new-found friends and that night Mr. WycofF passed him along to the next station on the 'Great Southern &: Canadian Underground Railroad.' "

Slavery was abolished by President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 18G3 and many persons born since that time can hardly realize that it was once a "divine institution" in the minds of some of the citizens of the United States. The above account of the Underground Railroad has been included in this work that the present generation mav form some idea of the conditions that existed A\hen the first white men settled in Stark County. They were not law-hreakers, bnt many of them believed that no one man had a moral ri<>ht to own another, and that it was a righteons aet to violate the Fugitive Slave Law. Sincere in these convictions, they did what they could in their humble way to assist the black slave on his way to liberty.

For several years after the close of the Civil war. political sentiment was very much divided over the enfranchisement of the negroes and the adoption of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to the Federal Constitution. The subject came before the board of supervisors of Stark County at the June term in 18()(). when Mr. Ackley, of reun Township, presented the following resolution:

"Whereas, section 1 of the constitutional amendment declares Ihat slavery or involuntary servitude shall not exist in the United States or any of the territories thereof, and section 2 provides that Congress shall have jjower to enforce the foregoing section by api)ropriate legislation, and

"Resolved that Andrew Johnson, in refusing to sign, and in vetoing said bill, and in other acts has rendered himself unworthy the confidence or respect of all loyal and ])atriotic men."

Mr. Parks, of Elmira Township, moved that the resolution be indefinitely postponed, but the motion was lost. The resolution was then adopted by a vote of six to two, Mr. Parks and Mr. Rogers, oi' XiiWey Township, voting in the negative. The incident is here mentioned to show the intensity of feeling that pervaded Stark County and how neighbors would differ in opinion. Andrew .Johnson was then President of the United States and Messrs. Parks and Rogers felt that it was presumption on the i)art of a board of county sujjcrvisors to criticize his official acts or attempt to jjoint out to him the course he should pursue. The majority thought differently, howevei-, and placed themselves on record accordingly.

As stated in Chapter VI, the first election for county olTicers was held at the house of Elijah McClenahan. The settlers in what are now FjSscx, Penn and Osceola townshi])s got the impression that the little circle "at the hub," known as the "Henderson men," was organizing to jnircel out the otKces. As a matter of fact, the emuhiments of any ottice in the county at that period would hardly pay the incumhent for the labor he would he required to perform in the discharge of his official duties. But political honors appealed to the average citizen then much as they do in the present day, and the voters in the "out townships'" decided to put up a tight in opposition to "'the ring."

The Henderson men were chiefly from Ohio, ^^irginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Opposed to them were the Yankees of Osceola Grove and Penn Township and the Scotch of Elmira. Among the latter was .James ]Moore, who was a shrewd individual and well calculated for a political leader. He went to Osceola, where he enlisted the cooperation of E. S. Brodhead, a brother-in-law of Oliver AVhitaker, and the two started out to organize their forces for the fray. In what is now Goshen Township they visited Buloft' Parrish and Conrad Emery, who had been decided on as one of the judges of election. That evening a little caucus was held and the next day the two missionaries held a meeting at Lafayette, where they promised Jonathan Hodgson the office of county commissioner. This settled matters so far as that l^art of the county was concerned, Hodgson's friends becoming active supporters of the movement to down the Henderson men.

The next point was ]Massillon Precinct, or West Jersey Townshij). though it was not then known by either of those names. Here the Eckleys, Dunns, AVebsters, Wycott's, Trickles and their neighbors gathered and Stephen Trickle was decided upon as another available candidate for county commissioner. Thus the links in tlie chain were being welded. Moore and Brodhead next went to ^Vyoming. where the latter was well acquainted, and where tlie support of General Thomas and his friends was secured. Then touching the settlements along the way, the two men returned to Osceola Gro\e, where a monster "mass meeting," attended by probably twenty-tive voters, was held. The "slate" was then completed l)y the selection of ^Minott Silliman for treasurer, Jesse W. Heath for recorder, Oliver ^^"hitaker for clerk, Augustus A. Dunn for sheriff, Calvin Winslow for the third commissioner, Dr. Thomas Hall for coroner and John W. Agard for surveyor.

Xow came the work of "getting out the vote." Teams and wagons were pressed into service, every man was assigned to his post, and the women folks were persuaded to make a flag to be carried at the head of the procession when it moved ui)on the polls at McClenahan's. Tliis flag is thus described liv ^Irs. Shallenberger:

"\Vhat matters it that bed linen brought from across the sea must serve for bunting, a bhie silk handkerchief be transformed into an azure Hekl for the stars, and a pair of genuine Enghsh cavalry pants supply the scarlet '. It was a new combination and entirely successful, the result being a grand United States flag that seemed to inspire the men with all sorts of patriotic fervor."

The Henderson men, among whom were the McCleualians, Perrys, Smiths, the several members of the Essex family, and their allies, were inclined to look with derision on the "Pennamites," as they called the Moore and Brodhead forces, and had published the threat that none of them should ever hold office in the new county. But they reckoned without their host. Even in that day "organization" counted for something in political campaigns, and the Pemiamites liad an organization that proved to be invulnerable when the final test came.

The morning of the first ISIonday in April (election day) daAvned clear and bright and each faction began the work of marslialing its h.osts. Wagons drawn by four horses and filled with voters left Osceohi Grove at an early hour for the voting place. Among the Scotch settlers were several musicians, \\\\o brought their instruments with them, and as the procession moved along the sound of '"pil)e and pibi'och echoed through the glen." At every settlement fresh detachments of men joined the ranks, and by the time they reached Mc- C'lenalian's the Pennamites were sufficiently strong to awaken some alarm among their opponents. As they approached the voting place with their flag flying, the liand playing, some in wagons, some on horsel)ack and some on foot, James McClenahan is said to have made tile in(|uiry: "Where in God's name did all these men come from?"

Colonel Henderson, the acknowledged leader of the opposition, was seated upon the fence, calmly watcliing the arrival of the Pennamites. When all were assembled he mounted the "horse-block," read the act of Legislature calling the election, and nominated Doctor Kicliards, ]McClenahan's brother-in-law, for chairman of the meeting. This pi'oposition was promptly voted down by the Pennamites, who then put forward tiie name of William Parks, who was elected after some confusion. Then the rest of the Moore and Brodhead program was carried out with something of the "steam roller" methods of modern politics. Whitney Smith and .John Finley, tlie men previously selected, were installed as judges of the election and tlie "slate" went through without a hitch. As soon as the result of tlie election was declared, the victors went to the grove, where they found their horses and vehicles all safe, and then commenced a jubilant cleiuunstratioii over their victory. Says ^Nlrs. Shallenberger: "They took out their instruments of music and flung their Hag to the breeze, driving up and down the road in tlie most exultant fashion. In the first flush of victory they surely forgot to be magnanimous toward the disappointed. But now, after tliirty-flve changeful years have swept by, and heads are Avhite and bowed that then carried the honors of early manhood, jierhaps too proudly, there are those who remember with a twinge of remorse, the bitter reflection of Colonel Henderson, and this is my rewai-d." In view of all that he had accomplished for us, they freely say, we were ungrateful. But they did not reason thus tliat niglit in 1839, but loading up every straggler they could find, commenced a sort of triumphant march toward ^Vyoming."

l^pon arriving at AVyoming the cavalcade drew up in front of \N"hitney Smith's store, and as many of the men had not eaten anytliing since early morning, Mrs. Smith began bustling about to prepare sometliing for them to eat. while Wliitney brouglit out a good-sized demijohn filled with whisky to furnisli the "liquid refresliments." While the demijohn was passing from hand to hand - or rather from mouth to mouth - among the Osceola men in the wagon, some one hit the horses a cut with the whip, the purpose being to carry off Smith's whisky. But some of the more sober ones in the party insisted that this was not a fair deal and that tlie demijohn should be returned to its owner, to whom it was explained that the whole thingwas merely intended as a joke.

There had been no lack of whisky during the day and the fresh supply received at W\^oming put the men in good shape to finish up the day's celebration in gorgeous style. On the way back to Osceola Grove thev stopj^ed long enough to serenade several of the settlers, receiving more to cat and drink. It was almost daylight the next morning when the delegation reached Osceola and some of the best citizens of that little community did not get the cobwebs out of their brain all that day.

The next year came the presidential campaign, when the whigs, imder the leadership of Colonel Henderson, carried tlie county for Gen. \N'illiam H. Harrison by a majority of thirty-three over ^Martin Viiu Buren, tlie democratic candidate. The victory for "Old Tippecanoe," as General Harrison was fondly designated, took some of the sting out of the defeat at the first county election the year before.

Indian Kktai.Iatiox

AVlien Henry Seclcy built his caliiii ut "Seelej''s Point,"" in what is now Penn Townsliip, in 1834, some of the Pottawatomi Indians were still living along Indian Creek and a jjortion of the tribe for several years after that date eanie regularly to winter at Walnut (irove. ^Ir. Seeley and his family kept on good terms with these Indians, and as Mr. Seeley himself understood their language, he, traded freely with them. In 183.) he raised a good corn eroj) and when the band came to the winter quarters in the grove that year he sold them corn for themselves anfl ponies. One day, while ]Mr. Seeley was attending to some business in I'eoria. an Inilian came to his cabin with a large sack, which he wanted filled with shelled corn, tendering a silver half dollar in jiayment.

]\Ji-. Seeley's father, a man well advanced in years and not physically strong, was the only man about the place. After conferring with his daughter-in-law he decided that it was better to let the Indian have the corn, although the .)() cents was less than half its valne. When the sack was tilled the Indian threw it across his pony and departed, no doubt langhing in his sleeve at the trick he had ])layed on a white man. A few days later he returned with the same sack, or one very much like it. and another half dollar. But this time Mr. Seeley Mas at home. He was not afraid of the "Big Injun" and j^romptly informed him that it would take two such coins to purchase the corn. This time the Indian, not having the requisite sum of money, was compelled to return to his people empty handed. ]\Ir. Seeley noticed that the red man was quite sullen as he mounted his pony and knew that in some way the Indian would endeavor to get even for the insult.

About a year later. Avhile the Indians were encam])ed at Walnut Grove, Mr. Seeley and a neighbor, one of the Sturms boys, rode over one day to see how their Pottawatomi friends were getting along. xVt that time there was a French trading post not far from the Indian camp, where gunpowder and whisky were among the leading commodities offered for sale. As Mr. Seeley and his com])anion approached the canq> it was plain to be seen that the Indians had been to the trading post. The discoi-dant shouts and yells told as plainly as words that the Indians were on a sjjree. while now and then would be heard the report of firearms.

It was a custom among the Indians that when they wanted to "go on a drunk" one man was either drafted or volunteered to stay sober to i)revent the drunken ones from killing each other. ]\Ir.

Seeley and his friend carried their rifies and rode forward to the camp, knowing that the sober Indian would probably be able to control those who were druiking, or, if not, they could take care of themselves. Upon entering the camp a group of half-drunken savages came up to them with a small cask of "tire-water" and invited the white men to join them in a social drink. Sturms first took the little keg and held it to his mouth for a few moments as though drinking, after which it was passed to ]Mr. Seeley. But just as he was raising it to his lips the Indian to whom he had refused the corn the year before rusb.ed out of the crowd, snatched the keg and exclaimed: "Mean white man, no sell Indian corn, he no have fire-water." The insult of the precedingyear was wiped out.

\Vhile all this was taking place the squaws were busy gathering and hiding the arms, for fear that their men folks would either assault the white men, who had been kind to them, or injure each other in a drunken brawl. The keg of liquor was quickly carried away by the roisterers to a neighboring thicket and ^Nlr. Seeley rode away without fear of any further enmity on the part of the Indian.

Huxtixg In Early Days

When the first settlers came to Stark County game of all kinds was plentiful and the pioneer dependetl more upon his rifie than upon his flocks and herds to furnish the family's supply of meat. Boys were early taught to shoot and it was no unusual thing for a t\\ elve- 3'ear-old lad to bring in a Avild tiu'key or report that he had killed a deer which was too hea\'y for him to carry. Among those who achie\ed distinction as hunters were the Sturms boys - Henry, Xicholas, Samuel, ^Matthias and Simon - all sons of ^Matthias, who settled in the county in 1834. Clad in rough frontier garb and armed with the old Kentucky "hammered barrel, hair triggered" rifle, they knew every "deer lick" in the country round. Henry Sturms uSed to say that he had killed as many as thirty deer in one week and dragged them home by tying them to the tail of his horse.

They never carried their rifles on Sunday, and one Smulay morning, about ISio, while Henry Sturms and one of his cousins were returning home from church, they discoA'ered a large buck, slightly wounded, lying in the water of Spoon River, where lie had doubtless crept to conceal himself from his pursuers. Henry leaped from a blufi^ some eight or ten feet high, landed squarely npon the buck's shoulders, seized him by the horns and forced his nostrils under water, holding liiiu tlifre l)y main strength nntil he was almost suffocated. The (leer wa's then despatched with a heavy pocket knife, such as every fronliersmaii usually carried, and the two youngsters dragged the deer home, which was hut a short distance from the place where they found him.

Rut, while deer and such animals were hunted for food, there was an occasional wolf hunt for the purpose of lessening the number of these animals that were preying upon the few domestic animals of the settlers. Two or three years after Isaac R. Essex* and his associates settled along the Spoon River, in what is now Essex Township, they were invited to join with those living about Princeville, Peoria County, in a \\()lf hunt. Minott Silliman. Renjamin Smith. David Cooper, the ^Miners, Reeds, Daniel I'rince and several others joined in the hunt and a number of wolves were killed. Another great wolf hunt was "pulled off" in 18-4.1, in which over one hundred settlers participated. Harvey L. Ross, while still in his "teens," caught twelve wolves one season in steel traps set near the carcass of a dead horse.

Early Outlawry

In the i)receding chapter mention is made of the INIutual Protection Society, which was organized to protect the settlers against the depredations of baiidits and horse thieves. The history of every frontier shows that such settlements have been the resort of men who would rather live by robbery than by honest labor. Then the reign of law was in its infancy, courts and prisons were at some distance from the "margin of civilization," and the outlaws stood a much better chance of escaping the clutches of the law. Kaily in the nineteenth century the notorious John A. INIurrell organized what was probably the first regular chain of horse thieves and highwaymen, which extended from the Ohio A'alley to the Southern States, where there was then a great demand for horses. A stolen horse could be concealed throughout the day in some convenient thicket and at night passed on to the next station in the chain, until the market was reached.

Even after the death of ]Murrell, gangs contimied to operate in Indiana, Illinois and some of the adjoining states. John Driscoll and his two sons - William and David; John Brodie and three of his sons; Samuel Aiken and his three sons; William K. Bridge and Norton R. Rovce: .Tack and William Britt, were some of the gang leaders that managed the affairs of the outlaws about the time Stark County was settled. They were the men who planned the robberies, jirovided alibis for tiiose mIio were so unfortunate as to be arrested, furnished liiding places for the stolen booty, laid out the route the stolen horse was to be taken, concealed the members of the gang from the officers (jf the law, and sometimes took a hand in the robberies themselves.

Some twenty-five or thirty years ago, W. H. xVdams, in one of his 'Tioneer Reminiscences," published in the Brimlield News, tells of three men who came to John LafFerty's in April, 1838, pretending that they were looking for land. 3Ir. Lafterty had come from Ohio two years before and located in Knox County, not far from the present boundary of Stark. On the night of JNIay 1, 1838, the "land buyers" disappeared and the next morning JNIr. Lafferty discovered that a team of fine black horses he ow^ned was missing. About the same time John INIiller, Sewell Smith and Robert Colwell reported that they had lost horses. A posse was soon organized to trace the thie\es. The balance of the story is thus told by JNIr. Adams :

"jNleantime one Roantree, of Henderson Grove, arrived at ^liller's house Avith the information that two horses were in charge of a boy at Washburn's Grove. John McCoy was sent to investigate, identified the horses as Lafferty's, and then started in search of the posse, meeting them on the way to "Washburn's. Arriving there, they relieved the boy of the horses and began making preparations to hang him. The boy was greatly alarmed, of course, and Mr. ^liller, taking advantage of his fright, led him to one side and promised to intercede for him if he would give information that would lead to the capture of the thieves. This the young fellow- was glad to do. and when (piestioned by Lafferty and Cohvell, told tliem that the rendezvous was in the Wiimebago swamp. That niglit the party started for the swamp, taking the boy with them to act as guide, and about daylight came to a spot near the rendezvous. Just before sunrise one of the robbers came out of the brush hut and was captured by John ]Miller. Two others, alarmed by the scuffle, jumped from the hut and attempted to make their escape, but were overtaken and captm-ed.

"The horses and saddles were then collected and the victors and \anquished proceeded to another grove to try the robbers. The court was organized, the boy's statement was noted, each of the settlers identified his horses, after which a vote was taken upon the guilt or innocence of the prisoners. The verdict was unanimous in favor of their guilt and the trio were hanged. At Spring Creek, on tlie way home, the posse was fired upon by friends of the men they had just executed, but no one was hurt. The fire was returned liriskly and thus ended the adventure of the earlv davs of ]Mav, 1838.

"In June following. C'olwcll, Joe Druniniond and sonic others happened to pass that way and one ol' the party called attention to three bodies swinyini'- from the hraneh of a tree. Col well said: '1 wonder if them aint Injuns hung by the whites during the Rlaek Hawk war?' Druniniond. turning to him, said: 'Uad, them's horse thieves; you didn't shoot 'em. you hung 'em.' to which Colwell merely replied: '1 guess they're dead.' and the party left the scene of the tragedy."

Once or twice a year, owing to the amount of business done by the gang, an "ad.iuster" would pass up the Spoon River \'alley to ])ay each member of the gang his share of the ill-gotten gains. Charles S. I*ayne. of Wyoming, freciucntly saw this man and dcscrilied him as "a gentleman of very solemn demeanor, wearing green spectacles, and talked very little."

JNIr. Adams also relates another incident of an attemjJted robbery in 18-i4.. A trader named Smith, located at Rochester, had about two hundred cattle, which he wanted taken to the Ciiicago market. As there were no railroads at that time, he employed .roliii Emery, a member of one of Stark County's pioneer families, to drive the cattle across the country. iVecoiiipanied by John Pratz, Michael Smith and Elias I.afFerty, ]Mr. Kmery started for Chicago with the cattle. At the old tavern known as tiie Nine 31ile Ilt)use, on the Desplaiiies Ri\'er, he sold a part of the herd, receiving therefor $200 in gold coin. Fi)on reaching Chicago he found out that he could sell the cattle to better advantage by having them slaughtered and disposing of the dressed beef. Smith. Prat/ and Lafferty returned home, leaving Kmery in Chicago.

\Vliile all this was going on some of the Rritt gang were watching JNIr. P^mery's movements. When his companions left him alone in Ciiicago the Britts surmised that he would travel home alone after the cattle were sold, carrying the money w itii him. and began making their preparations to relieve him of it. The cattle were slaughtered, the meat sold, and Mr. Kmery. with the $'2()() in gold and $1,100 in paper currency, started for Rochester. The first night out he i)assed at the Nine Mile House, where he met Jack and Rill IJritt. The next morning Kmery and the two Britts rode together to Paw Paw Grove, where Jack stopped while Kmery and Hill rode on to Princeton, where they passed the night. At I'rinceton Mr. Kmery was introduced to a woman and her son. from Meadville. Pa., who were on iheir way to Carson Berfield's, in Stark County, and offered to guide them the rest of the w^ay.

That evening two htrangers, well dressed and mounted upon tine horses, arrived at the hotel in Princeton. They were the two members of the gang assigned to the work of getting JNIr. Emery's money. Not being apjjrised of the arrangement that had been made between JMr. Emei-y and the woman, the t^vo highwaymen were surprised the next morning to see a carriage drawn up in front and 31r. Emery's horse saddled ready for the start. They hurried to the stable and saddled their own horses, but were again surprised to see the lady and her son come out of the hotel and greet INlr. Emery as an accpiaintance. After she had stepped into the carriage she asked the cattle drover to hand her his satchel and overcoat, which he did, and then turned to mount his horse. Just then the two would-be robbers appeared upon the scene. It seems that the landlady, suspicious of the two well dressed strangers, had warned Mr. Emery and told some of the guests of her suspicions. These guests were now on hand to see what was going to happen. When JNlr. Emery gave the woman in the carriage his overcoat and satchel, one of the robbers asked: "Are you going with them folks r'

]Mr. Emery answered in the affirmative and then drawing his money from his pocket said: "Here is over one thousand dollars in pajier, and here (drawing a purse from another pocket) are $"2()0 in gold. I would like to see you try to get it. As soon as you came in last night I saw bv Bill Britt's actions what vom- business was and knew who set you dirty, contemptible, thieving skunks on my track, ^'ou can follow me if you think it will be healthy, or you can go back to Paw Paw Grove and tell Jack Bi-itt that you failed to get m>- money. Then you and the Britts can all go to hell together."

As ]Mr. Emery uttered the last words he swung himself into his saddle, gallantly lifted his hat to the assembled guests in front of the hotel and rode away, the carriage following. The two crestfallen bandits watched him for a few minutes and then departed in the opposite direction. IMr. Emery reached Rochester in good time and turned the money over to his em])loyer.

The Morjiox Prophet

It may not be generally known to the peo])le of Stark County that Joseph Smith, the founder and first prophet of the IMormon Church, was captured in this county a short time before his tragic death in the jail at Carthage, the county seat of Hancock County, 111. Wlun the ^Mormons were driven from ^lissouri thev went to a bcauti- fill bluff, overlooking the JMississij^pi River, in Hancock County, where they founded the City of Xauvoo. Robberies and murders committed in Iowa were traced to Mormons and the people along the ]\Jississippi in that state and Illinois began to clamor for their removal. ^Matters finally grew so hot that in the earlj^ spring of 184-t Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum sought safety in flight.

AVorking tlieir way northeastward, they reached the old state road running through Cioshen Township. On this road was a sehoolhouse that overlooked the old Indian camp on Indian Creek. One morning at recess a fine ci)vered carriage drawn by a team of beautifid gray horses drew up in front of the sehoolhouse. In the carriage were two men. both wearing silk hats and showing other evidences of ])rosperity. who iiujuired the way to Osceola. Ahneron ^NI. Harris, afterward a captain in a ^Missouri regiment in the Civil war, was one of the scholars who happened to know the road to Osceola. Covered carriages were rare in those days and the school children spent some time in speculating who the rich gentlemen were who could afford such a turnout. * Xot long after the carriage had passed the pursuing officers arrived and also made inquiries at the sehoolhouse. Young Harris described the men and the carriage, and directed the officers to Osceola. That afternoon they returned with the two Smiths as prisoners. They were taken back to Carthage, confined in jail to await trial, and on tlie night of June 27, 1844, the two brothers were assassinated. The death of .Toseph Smith left the ^lormon Church in a disorganized condition for a time, Imt a new prophet was chosen and the IMornions took up their march for Utah, where they founded Salt Lake City. It is not certain why the fugitives were inquiring for Osceola, though it may have been that they expected to find friends there who would keep them concealed until it would be safe for them to leave the country. If such a "friend" dwelt at Osceola he kept his own counsel and nobody ever found out his identity.

A Political Echo

About a year after the l)eginning of the Civil war an organization of Southern sym])athizers grew up in the X'^orth. This society, or secret order, was known by various names, such as "Knights of the Golden Circle," "Sons of Liberty," etc. Along the Ohio River, in Southern Illinois and Indiana, the order flourished, but farther north its members were not so numerous. In September, 1876. a Mi-iter in I the Chicago Tribune gave what purported to be a histoiy of this organization. Acconlino- to his account tlie Sons of liberty in Illinois had a Avell concerted plan to cai)ture Camp Douglas in Xoveniber, 1864, release and arm the Confederate prisoners confined there, and "carry the war into tlie enemy's country." The writer named several prominent men of Illinois who were interested in the above plan, among them being ^Martin Shallenberger, of Toulon. As a plain matter of fact, the writer of that so-called history of the Knights of the Golden Circle had evidently not made a very thorough investigation of the facts, for none of the men he mentioned entertained any idea of such action. It was but an echo of days when sectional and political feeling ran high, when neighbor was arrayed against neighbor, and rumor as to the treasonable inclinations of this or that individual was prevalent all over the North.