Williamson County, Illinois - The whole text, 1876 (part 2 of 5)

So, anything that required a mechanic to pro-, duce was high, but such articles as required noj skillful hand to produce, were very low. Hogs^ were scarce in an early day, and it was along timej before they got a start to raising them. The)i ran in the woods, and as late as 1850 nearl)| everybody had what he called his ''wild ho^ claim." This claim entitled him to go into the woods and ,catch and mark every hog he could, once a year. These claims were negotiable, and were often bought and sold ; but got very cheap before they were all extinguished. A wild-hog claim in Big Muddy, or Pond, or Crab-Orchard bottoms was at one time very valuable ; but their conflicting claims were often the cause of animosities, feuds and riots among our people. Some one had marked hogs already marked, or some one had been stealing and selling, and so there was a continued feud and fuss. Then it was the great hive from which sprung that innumerable number of " hog thieves " which were so common here once. But they are all gone now. The extinguishment of the claims ushered in an era of peace ; feelings of safety and friendship were enkindled. For the last sixteen years this county has annually produced i,ooo hogs for market, ibout 1,000 head of beef cattle. During the ivar there were no less than 2,000 horses and Bules bought in this county for Government service. It is also a sheep-producing country, and las some of the finest breeds in America. Among ;he mechanical productions, the first was the nanufactuj-e of hats by Aaron Youngblood, in an :arly day. This was followed by a shop at Bain- )ridge, run by Samuel Dunaway, who furnished hats for the whole country. Nearly everybody tanned their own leather. The tan-vat was a large trough, sunk to the upper rim in the ground ; bark was pounded fine and put in. The hair was taken off with lime, and lard was used in place of fish oil to soften the leather, and soot to blacken it. All the shoes were home made up to 1850; though the state of society called out every mechanical and inventive genius, yet the shoes would turn green in wet weather, and the soles try to get on top. Nearly all the wagons were made in the county, as were also the looms, wheels and farming tools.

Thousands of pounds of pennyroyal oil, mint oil, and sassafras oil are annually produced in this county. The first settlers raised a great amount of cotton for clothing. It was the main crop until 1840, when our people commenced to raise tobacco as a money crop. The usual crop of tobacco amounts to 1500 hogsheads, averaging. 1500 pounds each. Cotton was extensively cultivated during the war, but now there is very little raised ; the average is 400 pounds per acre. In ordinary seasons the wheat crop averages about 15 bushels per acre; corn about 40; hay about two tons per acre. Castor beans are also cultivated. And all kinds of fruits and berries have been propagated for over twenty years. Poultry is also a large source of income to our people. The sale of eggs alone reaches 40,000 dozen annually. In 1872, the Carbondale Coal and Coke Company was organized, with a capital stock of ;g5o,ooo, and have been shipping coal from Cartersville, in this county, at the rate of 60,000 tons per annum.

Of Progress

The causes which led to the civilization and prosperity of this county deserve some consideration in this book. The state of society and the manners of the early settlers were indeed low enough ; they were poor and illiterate, and addicted to the rude diversions which I have described. So little progress was made that, in 1826, sixteen years after the first settlement, the total value of the real and personal estate was only ^19,500, or about the value of Goodall & Campbell's storehouse. No county in the State was settled on so little capital as was this. The immigrant generally paid his last money for crossing the Ohio. I have been unable to find a man in the county worth ^1,000 until after 1830; but the increase since then has been marvelous. To-day the county is worth over seven millions of dollars; The constant travel and intercourse with other counties gave a new current to public and private feeling, and new life to pursuit. The schools and the Gospel have had much to do in civilizing this county ; but the enforcement of good laws has been the most effective means of making men better. As early as 1830, the huntsmen began to change their clothes for those of the farmer. The rude sports were giving place to the more noble ambition for mental endowments and skill in the arts. Industry took the place of idleness. The clamorous boast, the horrid oaths, the provoking banter and the biting sarcasm have given place to courtesy and a conversation enlivened by science and chastened by moral culture. The threelegged stools, moggins, trenchers and wooden bowls gave way to the furniture of our day. The "tents," "lodges," "wigwams," "stockades" and " log-cabins " have given place to the splendid mansions that now adorn our county. The first cabins had the "stack" chimney, and in a few years, when the man got able, he built another house to the chimney, and that is why our loghouses are double and one larger than the other. The Benson House, in Marion, was of this kind. The first brick house built in the county is in

Schoharrie Prairie, and was built in 1840 by James M. Campbell. It is still standing, but the secondstory was blown down in May, 1876. It is in the most beautiful spot in this county, and ought to be haunted, because it does not decay. The powers of darkness must watch over it, and by invisible means, prop its crumbling walls and replace its falling brick. Schoharrie, so named from the fact that a band of disguised men were once whipping a hog-thief in it, and one of them kept crying out "Score him, Harry! " The next brick building was the Court-House, in 1841, and the Western Exchange, in 1842. The first business house in Marion was built by John (Bone) Davis, when the town was located. He was in such a hurry to sell whiskey that he bought a set of stable logs from A. T. Benson, and put up on the square, a few feet north of the well. When the town was surveyed he fell into the square and had to move. He used to fasten his door by filling it with poles. Sterling Hill's grocery was the next, and is still standing. D. L. Fully put up a grocery on the Westbrooks corner, and J. D. Fully built -' Our House," on the west side. John Sparks put up a hat shop on the north-east corner. The first store in the county was kept at Bainbridge in 1818, by Mr. Kipp. The next by John Davis, on the

Sampson Bell place, in 1821. Then Thompson put up one where Mr. Small now lives. Coffee was 75 cents per pound, and calico 50 cents per yard. Thompson was succeeded by Warren Spiller, and he by Cripps. In 1836 Hugh Parks put up a store where Crossley now lives. In the same year, Wm. Ryburn commenced keeping goods at the Hinchcliff farm. In 1830 John Davis opened out at Sarahsville, and in 1848 John H. Mulkey and George Aiken went into business at Blairsville. In 1856 Oliver Herring had a store in Herrin's Prairie, and two years later, D. R. Harrison commenced in the same house, and is now one of the most wealthy and respectable citizens of the county. In 1857 Erwin and Furlong commenced business in Crab Orchard. The first store was put up in Marion by Joshua Mulkey in 1840, the next by Robert Hopper. Groceries were always plenty,, the licenses varying from $25.00 in 1839 to $500.00 in 1864. There have been no saloons in the county, except at Carterville, since 1S72. General Davis, who was one of the best friends the county ever had, ran a still-house and saloon until in 1837, when John Newman got drunk and the hogs ate him ; and in 1838, Essex Edmonson got drunk and rode off into the Saline and froze to death. About this time Davis went to the Leg- islature, and while there, heard A. Lincoln deliver a lecture on temperance. He came home and closed the door of his saloon forever. J. T. Goddard commenced selling whiskey in Bainbridge in 1841, and finally got to be one of our wealthiest men. Soon after Samuel Dunaway put up a store and is now the richest man in the county.

Marion was first incorporated in 1851, but soon run down. Again in 1856, but again run down; then, in 1865, by special Act, and in 1873 organized as a city under the general law of the State. It has now about 1,200 inhabitants, and has eight business houses, costing, on an average, ^11,000.

Jeffersonville is a prosperous little village, in the north side of the county, commonly called "Shake Rag," so called from the fact that in an early day a man kept a " blind tiger " in a low, flat-roofed mud house there. When he had whiskey he would stick a stick through the roof with a rag on it. As parties ascended the hill on either side, they looked to see if the rag was shaking; if not, then there was no whiskey. All the whiskey of that day was of the meanest kind imaginable.

The first printing office in this county was owned by W. H. Wileford, in 1838. He did all the printing for this country, and in 1S50 he started the Literary Monitor, seven miles southeast of Marion. In 1854 was started the Marion Intelligencer, a Democratic paper ; the Democratic Orga?i in 1 860-1 ; and the Mario?i Star in 1866. In 1866, Our Flag, Republican. In 1867, Old Flag, Democratic, In 1868, The People' s Friend, Democratic. In 1872, Williamson County Progress, Republican. In 1873, Farmers' Advocate, Independent. In 1874, Marion Monitor, Republican. In 1874, Mariofi Democrat, Democratic. In 1875, Fgyptian Press, Democratic.

These papers were run for two or three years each, except the Marion Monitor and Fgyptia?i Press, which are now running, and then died for want of support. There are several good writers in the county. Among the most prominent lady writers are Mrs. M. M. Mitchell and Isabell Marschalk. i

There have been four banks in this county - J Agricultural Bank, Bank of Southern Illinois, in i860, and Menahaway Bank, in 1863; Bolton Bank, in 1858.

The Agricultural Society of this county was organized May 2, 1857, with Willis Allen as President. It has since been kept up, and each year has added new proofs that the county is growing richer and better. The exhibition of the Society is second to none in Southern Illinois, except in ladies' textile work and works of art.

The Medical Association of this county was organized May i6th, 1875, by Drs. H. V. Terrell, S. H. Bundy and A. N. Lodge, three of as learned and classic gentlemen as live in Southern Illinois. The Society now has a membership of twentyeight, and is highly calculated to banish quacks and ignoramuses from the profession, and bring talent and science to the bedside of our sick.

During the summer months, from 1850 to 1872, there were a class of men in this county known as teamsters, who followed the business of hauling the products of the county to the railroads and river. In an early day nothing could be sent to market but such things as could walk. Ox teams were used up to 1866, when everybody commenced to use horses for teaming. This hauling got' to be so extensive and costly that there was a general demand for a railroad. An Act passed the Legislature and was approved March 7th, 1867, incorporating the Murphysboro and Shawneetown

Railroad Company, and in 1868, a petition signed by one hundred voters, as required by said Act, was filed with the County C'erk, asking the Court to submit a proposition of voting a subscription of $100,000 to the capital stock of the said company, to the legal voters of the county. Speakers went out over the county during the canvass, and the people were led to believe that they were taking stock in a railroad company, oruwhich they would annually draw a dividend more than sufficient to pay the interest on the bonds of the county. On the 3d day of November, 1868, the proposition was voted upon, and resulted in 1779 votes for, and loS against subscription. On the 1 2th day of December, 1868, the Court made an order that the subscription should be paid in the bonds of the county, running for twenty years, bearing interest at the rate of eight per cent, per annum, payable annually at the office of the County Treasurer. But said bonds were not to be issued, bear date, draw interest, or be delivered until the road was completed and the cars running on the same, from Carbondale to Marion. Provided, if the road was not completed by the ist day of January, 1870, this subscription was to be void. In the same order is found this language : and Shawneetown Railroad Company. Now, therefore, for the purpose of securing the construction and early completion of said road, that said county make and enter into an agreement with the M. & S. R. R. Co., and that the said county in and by said agreement, sell to said Company the ^100,000 stock. That the terms of said sale and agreement shall be in effect as follows : That when the certificates of stock shall have beea issued by said Company to said county, the said county, after the said road shall have been completed, and within ten days after said Railroad Company shall have issued to said county the certificates of stock for ' said $100,000, assign, transfer and set over to said Company the certificates for said ;^ioo,0oo stock so issued to said county for the consideration of five thousand dollars, to be paid to said county at the time of said transfer and assignment in the bonds of said county, issued to said Company, in payment of the subscription."

On the 1 2th day of December 1868, Jesse Bishop and Addison Reece, on behalf of the county, and Samuel Duaaway as president of the M. & S. R. R. Company, entered into a contract in pursuance of the above order, to sell the stock. It was recorded at the December Special Term of the County Court. This contract was drawn up by Jesse Bishop. They did not claim to have any authority from the people for making this infamous contract, because they give as their reason for making it : " For the purposes of securing the construction and early completion of said road."

They did not make it in compliance with any law or vote of the people. It has since been urged as an excuse for the sale, that it was best for the county, that the railroad company would have closed out the stock by mortgage bonds, and the county would have got nothing. That might be a good reason to give at this day; but I have copied the motives above, which actuated the Court in its action at the time. An Act passed the Legislature and was approved March lo, 1869, to change the name of the Murphysboro and Shawneetown Railroad Company to that of the Carbondale and Shawneetown Railroad Company, and to make valid the subscription and contract of sale of the County Court. By this Act it was declared that the County Court should, on the completion of the road to Marion, set over and transfer the certificates of stock to the railroad company without the payment of the $5,000 or any sum. This Act further provided that the interest on the bonds should be paid semi-annually in New York, in place of at the county treasurer's office. It was contended in the railroad suit described hereafter, that this Act was unconstitutional, as being ex post facto and impairing the obligation of contracts.

an order made by the Court, extending the time for the completion of the M. & S. R. R. to the ist day of January, 1872, and also extending the time for the completion of a railroad from Carbondale to Marion, to the same time. In was contended, in the suit, that the County Court here recognized two railroad companies, and that the giving of the bonds to the latter that were voted to the former was not valid. It was also contended by the counsel in said suit that if the Act of March the ist, 1869, was constitutional, it limited the time of the completion of said road to the ist day of January, 1871, and it being an amended charter, could not be changed only by the Legislature. At the July special term, 1871, the Court adopted the form of a bond to be issued to the company. At this same term, July 24th, the Court, with Spain as Judge, made an order, ifter reciting all the Acts of the Legislature, and :he previous orders of this Court, and reaffirming :he subscription, that the County Clerk should procure one hundred bonds of one thousand dollars ;ach, and that on presentation of the certificates )f stock by the company, the bonds should be ssued and placed in the hands of James W. Samuels, as trustee, to hold until the road was ompleted. On this same day the Carbondale & ^ 3B

Shawneetown Railroad Company entered into contract with E. C. Dawes & Co. to build said road. On the 4th day of September, 1871, the Court, after reciting 'the order of July the 24th, which stated that the bonds should bear date of January ist, 1872, made an order that the bonds should be prepared in blank and bear date from the completion of the road, as they expected to have it completed before that date. Most people supposed that only $50,000 worth of stock would be taken when the road was completed to Marion, and but few of them knew any thing about the : "contract of sale;" but it had leaked out, and 1 by the ist 'of November, 1871, there was considerable talk of an injunction to keep the Court ! from issuing the bonds. The work on the road ! was progressing rapidly, and Walter P. Hanchett, , the agent of E. C. Dawes & Co., became very, uneasy, and on Sunday, November 6th, 1871, sent out a special messenger to bl-ing in the County Court. They came in next morning, and were, set upon all that day by Hanchett and his friends to sign the bonds and place them in the hands o( a trustee to avoid the intended injunction froir. the citizens. Judge Spain and Associate Justice Holland were opposed to issuing the bonds until the road was completed. Manier, was for signing them.

About dark on Monday, the 7th, Hanchett and his friends got the Court together in a room over Goodall & Campbell's store, and tried every way to get the bonds signed. About 12 o'clock in the night some one told Hanchett to send for R. M. Hundley, that he could get the court to act. Hundley was sent for, and when he came up town he went to the Lanier Hotel, where Hanchett met him and told him what was up, and that his assistance was urgently solicited. Hundley told him he would let him know what he could do in from thirty to sixty minutes. Hundley then went over and had a talk with the Court, and then went back, asked Hanchett what it was worth to him to have those bonds signed that night. He said one thousand dollars. He then drew a draft on the Carbondale Bank for ^1,000, and left Hundley, who immediately went home. The Court signed the bonds that night, and delivered them to W. N. Mitchell as trustee, he first giving $100,000 bond for their delivery when called for. These County Judges were not bribed, as would seem from this story, because they are honest, conscientious men ; neither did Hundley attempt to bribe them; he simply got $1,000 to use his influence. That they ought not to have signed the bonds when they did is plain ; but it was an undue influence and not corruption. Mitchell deposited the bonds in bank at Springfield, and at the December adjourned term, 1871, the President and Directors of the railroad reported to the Court their acceptance of the road as complete from the contractors, E. C. Dawes & Co., and the Court ordered the bonds to be delivered to the company, and received the certificates of stock of $100,000.

On Sunday the 14th of January, 1872, five car loads of iron were, brought so Marion, and on Monday, the 15th, the last rail was laid on the track ; but the cars had been running to Marion for some time before. At the special term, being the 24th day of January 1872, the Court made an order authorizing the County Clerk to assign and transfer the certificates of stock held by the county in the C. & S. R. R. Co. to E. C. Dawes & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, excepting $10,000 of the stock, which was to be held by the Clerk until the railroad company should have the road completed to Crab Orchard, in this county, and by the contract the railroad company was to pay $5,000 for the certificates in the bonds issued by the County in payment of the subscription, and if they had done that there would have been only $95,000 in bonds outstanding. But they paid it in money, or at least settled ;^5,ooo of interest on the ;^ioo,ooo of bonds. The $10,000 of certificates are still in the possession of the County Clerk, and we pay annually $8,000 of interest, and another thousand for collecting and disbursing it. At the March term of the Circuit Court, 1873, a bill "for an injunction and relief" was filed by George Bulliner, W. M. Hindman, Henry Williams, George W, Sisney, Robert M. Allen, and F. M. Maxey. The injunction was granted by the Master-in-Chancery, and stopped the Sheriff from collecting the railroad taxes, and the State Treasurer from paying the interest on the bonds. This case created a great deal of anxiety. The case was decided by Judge Crawford against the complainants, and a judgment of $1,000 was given against them for attorney's fees. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, and the judgment below affirmed.

In 1872, Colonel J. C. Willis, president of the St. Louis & Paducah Rail Road Company, made an earnest effort to get assistance from this county in building a road, but failed to accomplish anything. On the 1 8th day of June, 1870, a vote was taken for or against subscribing $100,000 to the capital stock of the Belleville & Southern Illinois Rail Road Company, resulting in favor of subscription. The Court made an order that the subscription should be paid in the bonds of the County, running for 30 years, with 8 per cent, interest per annum. Provided, the work on the road commenced by the ist of January, 187 1, and be completed to Marion on or before the ist day of January, 1872 ; but the Court reserved the right of extending the time. And at the December adjourned term, 1871, the time was extended to the ist of January, 1873; and again in December, 1872, the time was extended to ist of January, 1874. This is the last order made in the case, and of course the subscription can not now be taken. Had they built the road within the time, I doubt not but that the same infamous dealings would have been played on our people, and this county would have had a debt of ;g2oo,ooo wrongfully fastened upon it, instead of ^100,000.

The Carbondale and Shawneetown Railroad is 1 7 miles 2,560 feet long, and cost ^583,407.12, and has a funded and unfunded debt of $275,890.15. For the year ending June 30th, 1875, it transported 38,959 tons of freight. The road has been honestly and fairly operated, and has been a great benefit to our county; but it is not right in principle for a majority to force an unwilling minority to contribute to the building up of a private person or corporation. It is right in public matters, but in private concerns their own consent ought to be obtained to make them partners or contributors.

I have now come to that division of my subject which must be more interesting to our neighbors than any other. And it is but fitting that I make a few egotistical preliminaries. I do not present this volume with the venal soul of a servile author, looking for competence or public favor. I was born a farmer, and am therefore independent. But so long as I claim the name of a citizen with my illustrious countrymen, a lasting obligation rests on me to assist in diffusing knowledge, elevating the standard of moral culture, rendering crime odious, and fastening the feelings of friendship on our people. I have intended this feeble effort to lead in that direction. I have known this people from childhood. I believe, sublimated by education, they are capable of attaining nobler hights than have usually been ascribed to the people of " Egypt." I not only glory in my birth-place, but pass encomiums on the county, and say to the world that from my knowledge of the public spirit of our people, I can expect protection, honest dealing and liberty in Williamson County. Linked to her by historic associations and proudly treasuring the memories of my fathers, the clearest duty of a modest youth like myself, whose unruly and turbulent boyhood has been subdued in the presence of this heroic people, is to assist in tearing down the curtains of darkness which hang like a mighty incubus around the crushed form of my native county, and bury them in the deep pit of contempt, where our citizens can stand by their grave forever and mutter thanksgivings to God, and invite an unsophisticated world to look with joy and pride upon a county redeemed from crime, and sparkling with brilliant gems of innocence and virtue. If I could roll back the scroll of time, and wipe from its damning record the terrible scenes of blood which have bespangled it, and testore the lives of our murdered dead, I would consider it my bounden duty, though I sailed with bloody sails on seas of grief. But that scroll has been sealed for eternity, not to be unrolled until the echo of impartial justice shall resound in the sunlit chambers of Paradise. I make this effort, prompted by motives, to assist in redeeming, if possible, our county from under the judgment against her, and prove to the world that our community is not composed of outlaws and cut-throats, but of a highly intellectual, honorable and moral people. I could wish to write a history by which the reader would be carried along the happy gales of pleasure, and never be drifted back into dark and bitter troubles, but I can not. Crime has darkened our county, like the shadows darken the earth, and our happiness has come to us only in fragments and detached parts. We have just passed through the deepest and crowning calamity of our history. Never was there such a shock to the feelings and sentiments of our people as the Vendetta caused. None believed that there was a heart so steeped in guilt as to conceive such crimes, nor a hand that dare commit the atrocious deeds. And yet I have to catalogue the deeds of a Vendetta, concocted by leaders and executed by fiendish emissaries, that has not a parallel in the record of crime. Here were men at whose blood-thirstiness even savages would blush, which brands them forever as the basest and bloodiest of incarnate demons.

Tacitus said: "Shame, reproach, infamy, hatred and the execrations of the public, which are the inseparable attendants on criminal and brutal actions, are no less proper to excite a horgo THE HISTORY OF ror for vice, than the glory which perpetually attends good actions is to inspire us with a love of virtue." " And these, according to Tacitus," says Rollin, " are the two ends which every historian ought to propose to himself, by making a judicious choice of what is most extraordinary, both in good and evil, in order to occasion that public homage to be paid to virtue which is justly due to it, and to create the greater abhorrence for vice on account of that eternal infamy that attends it."

Plutarch says : " But as to actions of injustice, violence and brutality, they ought not to be concealed nor disguised." Rollin himself has written, "If the virtues of those who are celebrated in history may serve us for models in the conduct of our lives, their vices and failings on the other hand are no less proper to caution and instruct us, and the strict regard which an historian is obliged to pay to truth, will not allow him to dissemble the latter through fear of eclipsing the former."

Addison has said, " The gods in bounty work up storms about us, that give mankind occasion to exert their hidden strength and throw out into practice virtues which shun the day." If these virtues are worthy of record, the conditions which generated them are certainly proper for study. This necessitates a history of the storms which the gods work up around us. By reading which, others who are about to get sootiness and filth from the smoke and flames of incipient storms, may take alarm and go and wash in the river of peace and come out white as pearls. ' ' Who that reads this record of crime will not appeal to the ruler of human fates below, and record their protests in heaven above against such slaughter ! I ask my countrymen if crimes that have sunk a county to the incandescent crater of perdition, ought not to be remembered. If you could cable the lightning from heaven, until its fiery forks kissed the flaming waves of hell, you would see nothing in its angry flames, as they zigzag athwart the pit of woe, throwing up a lurid glare, but the spectral mirage of murder ever standing up as a blazing memento that "sin is death." I am justified by the great writers I have mentioned in giving the meanest as well as the noblest action of my countrymen. If I write of the guilty with merciless hands, from a heart as responsive comes spontaneously praise for the innocent. If not as eloquent and as touching, yet as warm, as full, as sincere, as such a tribute deserves. If you are sad at the deeds of bloody men, you will be buoyant at the faithfulness and heroism of virtuous men. I expect, out of a- succession of events which possess all the traits of tenderness, splendor, honor, crime and debauchery, to write a romance without its exaggerations. It is a small difficulty to select an event, and swell it into a great tale, by fabulous appendages and spectral productions ; for he who forsakes the truth may easily find the marvelous : but who is improved by it ?

Samuel Johnson says, " Where truth is sufficient to fill the mind, fiction is worse than useless." Again, ''The counterfeit debases the genuine." I am not writing a record of passions and prejudices, but of facts, with the wrapping taken off, so that they can be seen aSs they are. Though some of them are crimes J;hat would make the bailiffs of hades blush and turn pale, others are heroic acts that would sweep the zones of misery away. I have abused no innocent man, nor palliated the guilt of none ; but have intended that my whole course should savor of fairness and candor, more than anything else. Some have used strong arguments against our county, but I have not evaded the force of their reasoning where I was unable to refute it, either by a sweeping contempt for those who use it, or by charging them with misrepresentation, or by endeavoring to swing off the mind of the reader on some inci- ental point to the real condition of our county. 'o enter the arena of controversy with the great hampions of crime, or even the little champions, J entirely beyond my ambition. Had that been ly object it might long since have been effected, do not care what this or that party may think of ly feeble efforts. I feel very little anxiety or soicitude on that subject. I have written the truth s near as I know it, and will leave the result to he arbitrament of public opinion. I have often leen asked if I was not afraid that I would be illed if I wrote a history of the Vendetta. I nswer, no ! I have been personally acquainted nth most of the supposed members of the Venetta from childhood, and am a friend to all of hem. I went to each one of them and asked him 0 tell me all he knew about the Vendetta, and ach of them told me fully, fairly, honestly, nd I believe truthfully, all I wanted to know, ^'hese people are all friendly now, and as gentleaanly as I ever met. Many of them I love and steem, and to incur their ill-will is by no means iesirable ; but to court their favor at the expense -f truth or right principle would render me :uilty in the sight of God, and contemptible in he estimation of all good men. Since they rere so kind as to give me information enough to write the whole truth, I deem it unkind and unjust to step aside from historic facts to hurl the shafts of envy, hatred and malice at any of them. Surely they have borne enough already, and I am satisfied that if no man gets inflamed at this volume higher than these young men, I will still be safe living in Williamson County.

Twenty-two of these parties are young men like myself, and I know of no country where finer-looking, honester, friendlier or more social young men can be found. I associate with them with pleasure. Many of them are my lasting friends, and I will not denounce them because they have been charged with crimes of which they were not guilty. For the guilty I have nothing but charity ; yet some of them committed the high crime of murder without excuse. I shall commence with the first homicide that occurred in the county, and give a brief sketch of each one as it occurred, up to the present time. Of the smaller offenses I have taken no notice, though they have been quite numerous and interesting. Some of them have been riots in which two or three men have been badly wounded. I estimate the number of assaults to murder that have occurred in this county at 285. Assaults with a deadly weapon, at 495; larceny, 190; rape, 15; burglary, 22; perjury, 20.

The, first homicide occurred in 1813. Thomas Griifee was trying to shoot a bear out of a a tree where the old court-house burned down in Marion, and he saw an Indian aiming his gun at the same bear. Griffee leveled his rifle at the Indian and shot him dead.

The next murder occurred in 181 4. Thomas Griffee had a man working in a saltpeter cave for him, by the name of Eliott, who was a little colored. He came into Griffee' s one Saturday night, and a surveyor by the name of John Hicks raised a fuss with him, and stabbed and killed him. Hicks then ran away, and at that moment a band of Indians came up to Griffee's from the camp at Bainbridge, and wanted to go in pursuit of Hicks, but Griffee would not let them go. Next morning Griffee and John Phelps started in pursuit of Hicks ; they came on to him at the Odum Ford, and Hicks snapped his gun at Griffee's breast, but was taken. They took him to Kaskaskia, where the nearest Justice of the Peace lived, and he was " whipped, cropped and branded," and let go.

In 1 818 a friend of Isaac Herrin came to this county and found a man dead at the Stotlar place, unwept and unknown. This man was doubtless murdered by the Indians, and if so, was the only one ever killed by them in this county.

The next murder occurred in 1821 in'Rock- Creek Precinct, and was committed by Henry Parsons. It was late one evening, when the trees were robed in the regalia of Spring, and the great molten orb was quenching itself in the wild winds as they come sweeping askant the rolling reach of upland, and the gentle mist was seemingly set to eddying by the rough elements, that this ruffian went walking down a little brook ; his keen restless eye keeping a constant look-out, he saw a man through the deep green foliage, sitting on a log across the brook. He fired on him, and the unknown hunter slipped off the log into the water, never to rise again. Parson buried him and his gun. He used to give as an excuse for this murder, that the Indians had murdered his father, and he intended to kill every one of them he could find, and he thought this man was an Indian. There never came a more infamous devil out of the legions of horrid blackness than this man Parson. I give a sketch of him from the mere love of relief. He lived unmatched in the history of villainy; he did not seek wealth, but lived in the woods. He was a cold, calculating miscreant. His passions had no touch of humanity, and his brutal ferocity was backed by a kind of brutal courage. Like an animal, he never par- doned an affront or rivalry, and to be marked in his tablets on either account, was a sentence of death. But still he was really a coward, and pulled the trigger of death with a hand that shook. His crimes were all cool-blooded, and not chargeable to passion. Free from rules and reckless of life, feeling no kindness for aught that was human, hated and dreaded by men, detested and shunned by women, he would lay around Davis' Prairie and kill Indians. With him the chambers of mercy had no relenting toward these blighted men of earth, but as a wasp is ever ready to inflict her sting, so was he ready to commit the crime of murder.

On one occasion A. Keaster met him on the prairie, and he threw up his gun and told Keaster to stop, whxh he did. Soon after he heard the keen crack of his rifle, and then met him again, j Parson told him he had just killed a bear back 'there and he could have it. But Keaster knew (too well that down in the dark, thick bushes lay [an innocent red man weltering in his own blood. The little birds of different species flew across the 'open space and back again, turifing and whirling in manifold gyrations over the scene, where the ineffable glories of sunset had been insulted by blood V murder. What a scene was this 1 an innocent, untaught man lying wounded in the bushes, dreading the return of his slayer ! What a thrill of joy would have electrified his soul to have seen a helping hand! Alone with his God and the winds and trees and flowers and birds, he died. The traces of his blood are hidden by the bushes and tall grass, but so long as Nature knows her own lament, will the cries of this murdered man be borne on the wild winds of heaven. I can not contemplate the character of a man but with astonishment that can look with fiendish complacency on the bleeding form of a brother man slain.

In 1823, Parson killed Parson Crouch. They lived on the Crab Orchard, near the Cal. Norman bridge, and Parson bought Crouch's improvements, and was to have possession as soon as convenient ; but Parson got in a hurry, and told Crouch he must get out by Saturday night, or he would get stung with the " yeller jacket," a name for his gun. Crouch went to Equality that week for salt, and when he got within a quarter of a mile of home, as he was driving along in a bit of dark and lonely forest, this sluth hound shot him dead, from behind a tree. He was found with his pockets full of toys for his little children. Parson went to D. Odum's, threw down his gun and demanded a horse. Odutn was afraid to refuse him, and he left the country. The whole country was raised and went in pursuit, but never overtook him. He went to Tennessee, and one of his sons came to this county years afterwards and said that a black dog had always followed his father, so that he could see no peace. He died a violent death. Thus " doth Providence with secret care often vindicate herself," and justice is continually done on the trial stage of life.

In 1833, James Youngblood was at a rock quarry, on the Saline, and was making his dog kill a snake, when Gideon Alexander appeared on the bluff above and shot him through the breast. Youngblood rose and attempted to shoot Alexander, but fainted. Alexander ran down to him, helped him home, and protested that he saw nothing but a white spot down through the foliage, and thought it was a deer's tail. He waited on Youngblood constantly, and paid all bills. Youngblood lived ' five or six years, but finally took to bleeding at the bullet hole, and died on the cold, damp, dirt floor of his cabin. This was a curious case. Nothing was ever done with Alexander for this foul murder.

Stable, interfered and stopped it. Simmons then commenced on Benson. The latter started home, Simmons ran after him with his knife ; Andrew Benson came up at the time, ran up to Simmons and asked him to stop. Simmons looked over his shoulder and saw who it was, and stabbed backward, striking him in the abdomen, from which he died. Simmons made his escape. Benson offered five hundred dollars reward and the Governor two hundred dollars, for his arrest. In about six months he wrote to his wife and was detected, and brought back from Iowa by Benson. He was tried and acquitted. His counsel were General Shields and General McClernand.

In 1854, John Mosley killed James Burnett, by striking him on the head with a club. The difficulty arose over a dog-fight. Mosley ran away, and was captured in Missouri by hounds following his trail. He was tried and sentenced for six years, but after one year's confinement was pardoned.

George Ramsey shot and killed Jack Ward in 1859. They had run a horse race, and Ward had won it, which made Ramsey mad. He threw a rock at Ward, then when Ward started towards him, shot him dead and ran away, and has never come back.

In 1859, John Ferguson, then a boy, went out into the country and found Ellen Reed lying in bed sick, when he shot her dead. He said his father had too much business with her. He ran away, and years afterwards came home and soon died.

In the same year, an unknown man was found hanging dead on the Crab Orchard, south of Marion. The facts about it were never known, but suspicion rested heavily on a man who lived near by in the bottom, at that time.

In the spring of 1861, an Irishman passed the house of R. T. McHaney, four miles east of Marion ; McHaney came up about that time and found that the man had insulted his wife. He got his gun and shot the unknown Irishman dead. He was tried and acquitted on the ground of defending his family.

In 1862, Reuben Stocks, a soldier in the Seventy-Eighth Illinois Volunteers, had been tranferred to a gun-boat and furloughed home ; he brought several of the boys with him and conducted himself rather offensively to some people. One day he was in Blairsville, and fell in with the "Aiken gang," some of whom he treated roughly. That night some men went to his house, on the Eight Mile, and called him up, telling him that they wanted him to go back to the gun-boat. When he went to the door, they shot him full of buckshot, from which he soon died. The perpetrators of this murder have never been discovered.

In 1862, when the One-Hundred and Twenty- Eighth Regiment left this county, and got to the Crab Orchard bridge, in Jackson county, Terry Grain got into a difficulty with John Burbridge, and struck him on the head with a stone, from which he died. Grain was not indicted until October 1875. He was arrested and admitted to bail on habeas corpus, in the sum of $15,000. In August 1876, he was tried, convicted and sentenced to fifteen years' confinement.

In this same year, William Stacey stabbed and killed Henderson Tippy. They were boys, bathing in the Crab Orchard, near Marion, and got to fighting. Stacey was acquitted.

In December 1862, James Baker was assassinated in Bainbridge Precinct. He walked out one night and was shot dead with a shot gun. It was thought that this was done because he was telling where deserters were.

In 1863, James Emerson, an ardent Republican, was assassinated while hunting his horses in the woods, near Blairsville. No cause for his murder is known, unless it was his politics. The assassin is not known.

After George A.ikin was frustrated in his efforts to sell out the One-Hundred and Twenty-Eighth, at Cairo, he went to Missouri, and got Allen Glide and Charley Glide, and came back here. These, and his son John Aikin, are the ones supposed to compose the ''Aikin Gang." This gang flourished here in the spring of 1863, in the north part of the county, during which time several murders were committed, and no less than fifty of our citizens robbed. Dr. Bandy was taken out and whipped unmercifully, and George Cox was attacked in his house and fired on several times. This band soon got so large that it became unwieldy, and they got to stealing horses. Several of them were arrested, tried and bailed, and left the country. Among the men arrested was James Cheneworth.

In 1863, six men in disguise of soldiers went to Daniel Robertson's, in Lake Creek Precinct, and told him he must go with them to hunt a deserter. He said he would if they would go by for his brother, Joseph. They did so. About one-anda-half miles from Joseph's, one man fired on Daniel, the ball striking him in the forehead, and he fell dead. Then, all six fired on Joseph, shooting four holes in his clothing, but he jumped from his horse and made his escape. They turned

I04 The History Of

In 1863, James Stilly was killed by Ben. Batts, The latter was at work in his field, and Stilly came to him and they got into a fight, when Batts killed him with a hoe, and ran away.

In the same year, William Moulton was killed by some unknown assassin. Joshua McGinnis, Dock, Dickson, Thomas Murray and Henry Norris were arrested for this offense, but there being no evidence, they were acquitted. McGinnis may have been guilty, but the others were not.

One morning in 1864, Samuel Moore was found dead at the door of a saloon in Jeffersonville. Parties had been drinking late the night before, and some one had killed him with a club. A man by the name of Washum was indicted, tried and acquitted ; and his blood is unexpatiated to this day.

During this year, Vincent Hinchliff shot and killed James Prickett, a young lawyer of Grassy Precinct, at Blairsville. Prickett was appearing in a case against the administrator of William Hinchliff 's estate, and he and Vince got into a fight, with the result I have mentioned. Vince was tried and acquitted on the ground of selfdefense.

The last homicide of this year occurred on the 24th day of March. Several of the Parkers and Jordans got into a general fight in Marion, over an old feud, and William C. Parker shot and killed Richard Jordan. Two or three others were wounded. Parker ran away and has never been caught.

In 1865, Isham Canady was shot and killed, in Marion, under circumstances of such a justifiable nature, as to render the homicide almost an improper incident for a catalogue like this, because the killing was not the result of malice, but of a combination of circumstances which made it absolutely necessary at the very moment. The defendant was tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense.

The next homicide of the year was that of Christopher Howard, who was assassinated near Herrin's Prairie, on Sunday, by some unknown villain, supposed to be on account of politics. He was a Republican.

In 1866, William L, Burton and Samuel McMahan were both shot and killed in a general fight in Sulphur Springs. The fight grew out of politics. They were both Republicans^ Dixon B. Ward was indicted for the killing, but there was no evidence of his guilt and he was acquitted.

In 1867, Horace Sims and John Latta got into a rough-and-tumble fight, at Sim's Mill, on the Saline, and Sims stabbed Latta in the thiih, from which he bled to death. Sims was tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense, he being on the bottom at the time.

During this year, John Cheneworth was assassinated in the woods, near his house, in Herrin's Prairie. He was not found until several days after. Mr. Cheneworth was a still, quiet gentleman. William Chitty and one of his sons were arrested for this crime, but there was not a shadow of evidence against them.

At the November election, 1868, a shooting scrape occurred between the Stanleys and Cashes, in Southern Precinct, in which several shots were fired, and Wm. Stanley was killed. Isaiah Cash was accused of this crime, but the evidence tended to show that another man was guilty. This was an old family feud, warmed up by politics, the Stanleys being Republicans. In 1870 Isaiah Cash was driving along on his wagon, when he was assassinated, fourteen buckshot piercing his body. His slayer has never been known, but enough is known to say that suspicion has rested on the wrong man.

One summer night in 1868, Charles McHaney and a boy by the name of Rogers got into a fight, five miles east of Marion, wlien Rogers stabbed and killed McHaney. He was tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense.

In 1869 George Mandrel, a lunatic in Northern Precinct, met his father in the road, and slew him with an ax. The scene was a bloody one, and Mandrel's lunacy is the only thing that saved his neck.

On the ist day of January, 1869, Samuel Cover shot and killed Phillip Thompson Corder, in Marion. The difficulty arose about a difficulty between Cover and a brother of Corder's. Corder was striking at Cover with brass knuckles, when he was shot. Cover was then put in jail to keep him from being mobbed. He was afterwards tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense.

On the I St day of December, 1868, William Barham shot and killed Andrew J. Lowe, in Marion. Barham was a young man, afflicted with lunacy, and while in this condition stepped into Mr. Lowe's saloon, and shot him in the forehead. Barham was then arrested by B. F. Lowe, and lodged in jail. , On the 7th day of September, 1869, he broke jail and escaped. Five years afterwards he was betrayed by a young lady in

In 1870 Thomas Pinkney White, a prominent citizen of Herrin Prairie, was seen crossing his field in his shirt sleeves. He was never seen again. At the back of the field where he went out, were signs of violence - a little blood and the tracks of two horses from there to Muddy River. It is evident that he was assassinated, but there are some who do not share this opinion. No cause for his running away was known to exist by anybody. H^ was an outspoken Republican, and his conduct in this line made him some enemies.

In iSyijMastin G. Walker, an old and respectable citizen of this county, living seven miles northeast of Marion, was met on his farm by a ruffian, beaten over the head with the barrel of a gun, and slain. John Owen, an old man (one of his neighbors, with whom he had some trouble about land), was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced for twenty-five years to prison ; and is now at Joliet.

On the 15th day of April 1872, Isaac Vancil, the first white man born in this county, a man seventy-three years old, living on Big Muddy, was notified to leave the country or suffer death. He did not obey the order, and on the night of the 2 2d, ten men in disguise of Ku-Klux, rode up to his house, took him out about a mile down the river bottom, and put a skinned pole in the forks of two saplings and hung him, and left him hanging. Next morning, when he was found, all around was still, blank and lifeless. The murderers are not known. I suppose that it must be a source of but little satisfaction to that infamous herd of desperate men to look upon that horrible scene, and feel and know that they are the guilty authors. They are hid from the face of men, but a just, certain, inexorable retribution awaits them. In the last day, God will make requisition for the blood of Vancil, which has stained Heaven with its vulgar blot. Until then we must submit to the arbitrament of time, and calmy wait with patience and resignation the unbiased inquest of the future.

of devils could not drive them from their allegiance. It is a hard thing for a man to swear blind allegiance and implicit servitude to a master over both soul and conscience, and never again feel the pure, untainted, dashing blood of freedom course his natural veins. Who can succumb to, such a disgraceful yoke ? Leon in his holy indignation could make no greater demand than this. A den of these infernal demons holding their hellish, midnight revelry, with their blood-shot eyes glaring with untold crimes, and their haggard visages bloated with an impress that tells of woe and mean distress, must be a nice gathering ! It may be that some old bridge, on some lone creek, could tell a tale of a soul in mortal strait, and the constellation of the weeping Hyades dropped tears on a scene like this, where the trees have plead for mercy'^for some other man in the clutches of these mean, sneak- - ing, low-down, white-livered scoundrels. Vancil was an honest, hard-working man, but had some serious faults. Still, God gave all equal right to live and to none the right to deal death and ruin in a land of peace. Soon after his death eighteen men were arrested in Franklin county, charged with the murder ; but were acquitted. Pleasant G. Veach, Francis M. Gray and Samuel Gossett were then arrested in this county, and admitted to bail in Benton. In a few days, Jesse Cavens, Wm. Sansom, Samuel Sweet, Jonas G. Ellett and John Rich, of this county, were arrested and lodged in jail at Marion. In eighteen days, Ellett and Gossett were bailed, and the others sent to Perry county jail, where they remained until December, when they were all tried in Franklin county, on change of venue, and acquitted. Some of these parties were indicted in the United States Court at Springfield, under the Ku-Klux Act, but all came clear. Colonel Ambrose Spencer prosecuted them, and he was, on the 6th day of January 1873, arrested for having them falsely imprisoned, and put in jail himself for a short time, and Jonas G. Ellett got $4,000 damages against him in this county.

In 1872, James Myers was hauling, near his house on the Eight Mile, when he was shot from behind a tree with a shot-gun. He was taken to his house, and Samuel Tyner, one of his steo-sons, with whom he had had a few words, was there and asked him what he could do for him. Myers told him to go for a doctor. He went to Dr. Hinchliff, and told him where Myers was shot, when he had not had time to find out. He had the day before borrowed a gun from Dr. Hinchliff, and it was found the next day where he had hid it. Young Tyner was arrested and admitted to bail. Myers not being dead, he ran away and has never been found. Myers died soon after.

In August 1872, Richard Allison shot and killed Samuel Absher, in a fight which arose about some chicken-coops, in Rock Creek Precinct. Allison ran away, and has never been caught. He stands indicted for manslaughter.

In April 1873, Francis M. Wise and William Newton, of Saline, were riding along the highway together. They had bartered mules, and Wise wanted to rue, but Newton would not. Wise then shot him dead from his horse and made his escape. He is indicted for the crime of murder.

In 1874, Horace Carter shot and killed William Willeford, in Union Precinct, while attempting to arrest Richard Hilliard. Carter was a constable, with a writ, and was shooting at Hilliard, and accidently killed Willeford. He is now indicted for manslaughter, and under bond.

In 1874, James Gibbs and Dock Burnett, two young men, got into a fight at a party, seven miles south of Marion. They agreed to fight fair, and walked out with seconds. Burnett had a knife handed to him, with which he stabbed and killed

Glbbs. Young Gibbs stood up and fought desperately with his fist, while Burnett was cutting him to pieces. He fell, and a cry went up to Heaven from the more tender-hearted in the crowd, at the cruel, murderous exhibition. Burnett fled the county, and a reward of ;g5oo was offered for his arrest.

September 17, 1874, Stewart Gulp, a respectable citizen of this county, was on his way from DeSoto, when he was shot and killed. He lay in his wagon with his head and one arm hanging out. His neck seemed to be broken. His horses went home with him in that condition. Nothing is known of his murderers.

During this same year, William Meece was assassinated by Samuel Keeling, who shot him in the back at church, in Northern Precinct. They were both young men, and had had a fight a few days before. Keeling escaped, and one year afterwards he was arrested in Kansas by John Fletcher, and brought back to Marion. He changed the venue in his case to Saline county, and was tried and sentenced for life to prison.

The next homicide that occurred in this county was that of Capt. James B. Murray, who was walking along a street in Marion, when he came to where Leander Ferrell was sitting. He made a halt, and was fired on by Ferrell. Several shots were exchanged between them, anil Murray fell, mortally wounded, and died next morning. Ferrell was arrested and bailed on habeas corpus, and was tried in 1876, and acquitted of manslaughter. Murray was a large, powerful man, cool and deliberate, but a man of the greatest courage. Ferrell has been a quiet, peaceable citizen. They had several difficulties before, in which Murray came near killing Ferrell.

In the summer of 1876, John Kelly and Samuel Lipsy got into a fight in Cartersville, and Kelly stabbed Lipsy in the back. Lipsy after- Avards died, and it is now claimed from the effects of the wound. Keily is in jail awaiting a trial.

And first, I will give an account of the families that hive been suspected of belonging to the Vendetta. And first of the Russells : Phillip T. Russell, who settled on the Eight Mile Prairie in 1817, brought with him three sons, James, Samuel and Jefferson. Jefferson Russell's family consisted of himself and wife, and eight children : Harriet, Winfield Scott, Nancy, Adelade, Mary, John R., Thomas J., and Hope. Four of these girls are married, but none of this family have been implicated in the Vendetta but Thomas. They are among our wealthiest and most respectable farmers, possessing good intelligence and education, and none of them ever did anything to bring reproach upon themselves, except it was Thomas. They live in the center of the Eight Mile, on the west side of the county, in a large residence, surrounded by the conveniences of life.

The Sisney family consisted of George W. , who first married Panina Brown, and had four children who are now living : - Winfield S., John, George W., Jr., and Martha Jane. The latter is now eighteen years old. Mrs. Sisney died in 1863, and Sisney then married Miss Fredonia Williams, who now has four small children. Winfield married Miss Malissa Williams; John, Miss Mollie Higgins ; George, Jr., Miss Hannah^ Tippy. Sisney was a man of more than ordinary ability; was medium size and compactly built, dark complexion, a very passionate and fearless man, but high-toned, generous and open-hearted. He served as captain in the Eighty-First Illinois Volunteers, and was one of the number who volunteered to run the blockade at Vicksburg. In 1866 he was elected Sheriff, and again ran in 1874, but was defeated. At his death he had 9,ccumulated property to the amount of several thousand dollars. In 1872 he wrote some sensible articles against the stock law, and argued that it would benefit him, but would be a hardship on the poor farmers. The young Sisneys received common school educations, and stand well in this county for honesty and fair dealing.

Of the Hendersons, Joseph Henderson of Kentucky, had three sons who came to this county : William, Joseph W., and James. William has seven children : Felix, James, Pad, John, Emma, Margaret and Nancy. Margaret and Nancy are married. Joseph W. has six children : Samuel, William, Thomas, Synoma, Lucy and Dike. James had but one child, Grantie, eleven years old. Joseph W. came to this county in March 1864, and William, March of 1865. Samuel and James Jr. served four years in the Twentieth Kentucky Union Volunteers. James, Sr., the leader, was born on the head-waters of Blood River, Kentucky, and was forty-four years old when he was killed. He was raised on a farm, but never worked one until he came to this State. When a boy, he drove a team, and one day got drunk, and his father took the team away from him, and from that day until his death he never drank a drop of liquor. He then went to Missouri, and then to Texas, and back to Kentucky, and lived with his brother William. In 1851 he went to California, and remained seven years, and came back to Kentucky with ;^6,ooo, and followed buying and selling notes until i860, when he went to peddling tobacco ; - his brother John manufacturing it. Felix G. traveled with him all over the Southern States. In Guntown they saw seven men hung for opinion's sake. James' indignation was excited, and he declared he would go home and join the Union army. He left his bills uncollected, and went to Paducah, and got permission to raise a company. This company he raised by going around in the bushes at night. The gun-boats met him, by agreement, up the river, and took his company to Paducah, and he joined the Twentieth Kentucky Infantry. He then went up the river, and captured the Agnew ferryboat, which he piloted down the river himself. But, not- being a pilot, it sometimes took the brush on him. After four months' service, he procured a substitute and started out with five men as a spy. On this raid he captured eleven rebels, and among them, Captain Bolen, who now lives in Paris, Henry county, Tennessee. He next acted as guide, and conducted General Smith's brigade to Fort Henry. After this he left the army, and moved into Massac county,

Illinois. Here he remained one year, and then joined the Fifth Iowa Cavalry as guide, in which capacity he served for eight months, and was then guide for General Lowe. He was in a skirmish in Clarksville, and in chasing one man whom he knew, shot at him, and cut a lock of hair from his head, which he picked up and kept. The man came to Marion with Hendricks, from Kentucky, when he had a suit against Henderson, and they had a hearty laugh over it. While he was with the Fifth Iowa he took a few men and went out from Fort Henry to where a man was harboring five rebels. When Henderson got there they were all in the lot but Captain Ozburn, of Callaway county, Kentucky, who was standing at the gate. Henderson told him to surrender, Ozburn said nothing, but drew his revolver, when Henderson shot him, and walked up to him, and Ozburn fell into his arms. Henderson not thinking he was hurt, again called on him to surrender. Poor Ozburn surrendered. his life to his Maker, and sank, and died at his feet. He came to this county February 1864, and in October bought the land, then in the woods, on which he died. Henderson was a large man, weighinc: over two hundred pounds, and without doubt the most powerful man, physically, in this county. He could not read, but was a coherent thinker: shrewd, cunning, and cautious; a man of but few words, but pleasant and child-like in manners, making him a very safe friend, but .a dangerous enemy. Such is the man who was the reputed leader of the Russell side of the Vendetta. Felix always lived with James until within two or three years before his death. Some of the Henderson girls are very handsome, and are excellent school teachers. The men are mostly illiterate, but shrewd and cunning. They have dark skins, coal black eyes and raven hair, and some of them are fine-looking men. They are men of few words, and are not the kind of people that turn over -mountains j but a braver set of men don't live on earth. With the exception of Pad, they are considered honest and fair in all their dealings.

Th'.s comprises the leading families on the Republican side of the Vendetta. Many others are implicated in this bloody feud wiih them, but I will describe them as they come upon the scene.

Xhe BuUiner family consisted of George Bulliner, his wife and eleven children: Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy Emelihe, Rebecca Adeline, David, John, Monroe, George, Emannal, Amanda Jane and Martha Lane. The youngest is now sixteen years old. Elizabeth married Jordan C. Halstead; Mary, John Gamble ; Nancy, W. N. Berkley ; Rebecca, Aaron Smith ; Amanda, Pierce Grain ; Monroe married Miss Josephine Gouncil, a very handsome and accomplished lady ; Emanuel, married Miss Mary Tiner, and David, at his death was engaged to Miss Gornelia O'Neal, of Tennessee. George Bulliner lived in McNairy county, Tennessee, and was a man of considerable means and influence. At the breaking out of the war, he was a loyal man, and in September 1862, raised what was always after known as " Bulliners Company, ' ' They first served as State guards, and finally entered the Union Army. Bulliner served without pay. He came to'this county on the 28th day of January, 1865, and bought a farm from Arthur Blake, two miles south-east of the Eight Mile, on which stood a two-story brick residence. In 1867 he put up a horse-mill and a cotton-gin. His son David first kept store with F. M. Sparks, a half-mile north of his house, and then put up a store at home. This he kept a few years, and then moved it to Crainville, and went in ^ath Wm. Spence, to whom he afterwards sold out, and with whom he had a little' suit, but not one tl-at generated ill-feelings. The other boys worked on the farm, and are young men of fine persoi al ippearance, light complexion, dark hair, social, jovial and very pleasant in their manners and address. George BuUiner was a man of more than ordinary ability, a large, stout-built man, of homely appearance. He was noted for his zeal for what he regarded as right, for his sterling honesty and boldness in asserting and maintaining his opinion, and defending his principles. He was energetic, and a shrewd business man, and was kind and lenient to the poor, buying what ever they had to sell; and in building up the country, and helping his neighbors, he not only became wealthy, but built up a character that was conspicuous and honorable. To a stranger he appeared like a cross, ill-natured man; but that was not his true nature. He was not a religious man, and sometimes resorted to rough sports and amusements. At the time of his death he was sixty-one years old.

The Hinchcliff family consisted of William Hinchcliff, who settled here in an early day, and died in 1858, his wife and three sons -: Vincent, Robert, and William. As a family, they are very intellectual, and noted throughout this county for integrity and high social qualities. They live on a farm on the north side of the Eight Mile, a halfmile from Russell's. They used to keep store there, and Vince was a physician, a good musician, and a man of fine ability, but of very violent temper. He v/as agreeable and social to his friends, but unpleasant and offensive to his enemies. Being a leading man, he had some enemies growing out of politics. Robert is a man very different in temper. Educated, refined, a splendid musician, sociable, honest, and a gentleman from the ground up. He is also an artist, and paints with great skill. He lives in a lovely little cottage amid bowers where roses, honeysuckle and jessamines mingle their colors and rich perfumes with the poseys and daisies. A meadow in its green livery, with tall, wild flowers oscillating in the breeze, and fields and forest so blended as to make a landscape of ever varying beauty, surrounds his house, where the song of the little bird is pouring forth, and insects sport playfully in mid-air, which makes their bright hues appear more resplendent by the sun's golden rays. Near the cottage is a flower-garden, containing every thing that can charm the eye or delight the senses. I will not attempt to describe this little floral world, for there is no end to it. This is a picture of his home, and imagination can furnish nothing more delightful than a life gliding away amid a scene like this. Robert and William have never

The Grain family is a very large one. Spencer and Jasper Grain settled in this county in an early day. Spencer had several children ; among them was Jasper U. ; Jasper, Sr., had several, among them was William and Spencer, Jr. William Grain had eight children: Nancy Ann, George F., Terry, alias "Big Terry," Noah W., alias "Yaller Bill," William J., alias "Big Jep," Warren, Marshal. T,, Wesley. Jasper U. Grain has seven children: Terry, Samuel R., Lorenzo, Alonzo, Mary, Pierce, Eva. Spencer Grain, Jr. had three living children, Wm. J. alias "Black Bill," Martha, and P^lizabeth.

The other i'amilies are too niunerous to name. Then, in fact, it would be useless, as only five of those I have mentioned have been implicated 1^3 the Vendetta. Most of the Grains are religious, and live honest, upright lives. They are all considered honest, pay their debts, and deal fairly with their neighbors. William and some of his boys would often get into rough-and-tumble fights; but never used weapons. "Big Terry," now dead, was a powerful man. Aside from this, there was nothing to distinguish them from the rest of our citizens. George F. is a Justice of the Peace, and one of the most respectable and honorable citizens of the county. The same could be said of several others of them. They received common school educations, and none of them are very wealthy ; but all are good livers, and farmers, and live three miles east of the Eight Mile. They belong to the sanguine temperament (excepting Black Bill who is bilious) and are social and agreeable men to meet. These are the leading families on the Democratic side. I will give account of others as they appear on the scene. The first difficulty in the Vendetta occurred on Saturday, the 4th day of July 1868, in a saloon one and a half miles east of Carbondale ; but it is right to say that there is not a drunkard, excepting Samuel Music, in all the Vendetta. Felix G. Henderson was on his way from Carbondale, about 4 o'clock p. M. It was raining very hard, and he stopped in the saloon, where the Bullinei;s, for the same reason, had stopped a few minutes before. The BuUiners were playing cards. After a while George Bulliner bantered ''Field" for a game. They went to playing. Presently George Bulliner, Jr., (a son of David Bulliner, of Tennessee, commenced by betting on the game, and got to putting in. Field told him to shut up, that it was none of his business. Young George said Bulliner was six and " Field " five. " Field " said he was six and Bulliner five. Bulliner said "Field" was right. "Field" then got up and

Young George first got a chair, which was taken from him, and then they clenched. George broke away and got some bottles. "Field" drew his knife, and George Bulliner, Sr., struck him with a bottle, and knocked him six or seven feet. A general fight followed, in which "Field" was badly beaten up. The bar-keeper's wife and James Russell parted them. At this time, " Field " did not know the Bulliners, and asked who they were. In the fight, " Field " had cut David Stancil on the arm. Next day Stancil sent Eli Farmer to Henderson to apologize for him. When Farmer came James Henderson cursed "Field," and told him that a saloon was no place to be in. After the fight was over, "Field" fearing the Bulliners would follow him, went an unusual route to William Hindman's in this county, where George Sisney washed off the blood. " Field " did not feel satisfied, so next week he went to where young George was plowing in David Stancil's field. They spoke, and Bulliner asked him how he was getting, and if he was hurt. " Field " said :

" I am badly hurt. I was overpowered the other day, and if you want to try it over I am willing, any way you want to." BuUiner said that he did not want to fight. "Field" told him that he had an equal show now, and that he himself had been mobbed. Bulliner, fearing that Henderson was going to shoot him, broke for a tree and called for his pistol. Henderson told him that he came to offer him a fair fight, and rode off home. In the September following, Bulliner had three ricks of hay burned. The tracks of two persons were observed leading in the direction of Cartersville. The next week his cotton-gin was burned and had at the time one hundred thousand pounds of cotton in it, fifteen thousand pounds of which were taken out of the ruins, a week after the fire. Suspicion was thrown by some on Felix, but a large majority at that time supposed it was incendiaries from Tennessee, and it is not known to this day who did commit this arson.

In 1872 Thomas J. Russell and John Bulliner commenced going alternately with Miss Sarah Stocks. They soon became cool rivals. Bulliner finally succeeded in making himself the most acceptable visitor. Envy seized Russell, and they became enemies; but other than a few short words, had no difficulty until the riot at Crainville.

In 1869, a man by the name of Samuel Brethers, who lived at Bulliner's, cultivated a part of Sisney's farm, which joined BuUiner on the east. He raised a crop of oats, and after they were thrashed, he left them on Sisney's farm. He then sold the oats to Sisney to pay the rent, and also sold them to David Bulliner, to pay a debt, and went to Texas. BulHner claimed the oats, and replevied them from Sisney, but got beat in the suit. On the 26th day of April, 1870, they met at Sisney's blacksmith shop to settle. They differed about each other's account, and Sisney said, " If we can not agree we will leave it to our betters." David said "I tried you in law once." Sisney replied "Yes! and I beat you." David said "Yes! and you did it by hard swearing;" and Sisney knocked him down with a shovel. David ran home, got his father, John and Monroe with their pistols, and started back. Sisney, on seeing them coming, retreated out the back way, from his house, with a Henry rifle. John fired on him, near the house, at about 150 yards. David fired with a gun, and again at 250 yards, just as Sisney went behind an old tree that stood in the field. Four of the ball took effect in his leg and hip. Sisney then asked for quarters, and George Bulliner stopped his boys. Sisney was carried to his house, and BuUiner waited on him faithfully for several days. They were all indicted in September following, and four of the Bulliners and Sisney each fined ;gioo. This was the only difficulty that occurred between the Sisneys and the Bulliners.

I have now given the three original causes of the Vendetta; first a deck of cards; second a woman ; third, oats. The Grains next came into the scene in a fight against the Sisneys. Marshal T. Grain and John Sisney had had a fight eight years before, but had made it up. Still later, they had another fight, at Mrs. Clements, about some "tales." John was accused of stiiking Marshal with brass knuckles. They, at this time, agreed never to be friends again, yet not to fight any more; but in November, 1872, they got at it again, with "Big Jep," and Wash (George Jr.) Sisne.y, thrown in for strikers; but nobody was hurt.

About the 15th day of December, 1872, James Henderson went into the Gompany store, in Garterville, and bought a pair of boots, and a dog fight occurred at the door, in which the Grain boys had a dog. "Big Terry" was cursing Elijah Peterson for interfering. Hendersor) thought that they took the other dog to be his, but he said nothing, and started off. " Big Terry" said :

" That rascal with the boots." I James told him it was a good time, to "lam i in. " A few more words were passed, but no fighting. This affair threw the Hendersons and Grains into line against each other. The Grains, now being enemies of the Sisneys and Hendersons, j became pliant allies to the Bulliners. I On the 25th day of the same month the Gari terville riot occurred. John Sisney, Wesley and I Marshal Grain were in the Gompany Store, when I Sisney threw out some banter to Marsh, who struck I him three times with a weight. Milton Blnck [started towards them, and "Big Terry" told him not to interfere, that they were boys. Black said he would not. Then Terry said :

"I am a better man than you. Black." Black said, " That is untried." Terry said, "I am going to whip you." Black replied, "You ain't done it." Terry started at him, and Black knocked him down three times, and it was supposed with brass knuckles. The other Grain boys started towards Black, and George Sisney cried out : " Give Black fair play." 5A

Just then some one knocked him (Sisney) senseless to the floor, and Warren Grain fell on him. They fought around for a while, and then got outside; the fight stopped, and, after a few words, Wesley Council struck Sisney on the forehead with something in his hand, supposed to be a weight. After this the Sisneys and Black went into Blake's grocery, when Terry again come on to Black; but George Bulliner interfered, and said Black should not be imposed upon, and there it had to stop. Sisney and Black went to the hotel to wash, when Terry and posse came in to arrest Black for using knuckles. Black resisted, sayingthat a private citizen had no right to arrest him. This ended the riot. Some of the parties were arrested, and their trial set for December 30th, at Crainville. The Hendersons had heard that the Grains had said, if any of them came down on that day they would be to haul home. So, on that day all the Hendersons, Sisneys, Bulliners, Grains, Gouncil, Thomas Russell, some of the Stotlars, and several others, were on hand, and, in place of a trial by law, they had a trial by wager of battle. Russell raised a difficulty with i John Bulliner. They commenced fighting on | the east side of Wm. Spence's store, and fought i around to the south door, John with a little stick, and Tom with his fist. James Henderson told Tom to get a brick, which he did and threw it at Bulliner, who then drew his pistol. Russell then drew his. At this instant David Bulliner came out of the store, and James Henderson drew a revolver about a foot long, and said no man should touch. The Bulliners then went into the house, where some of the Grain boys were. Sam. Henderson struck the house with his fist, and asked :

Bulliner started out, but was caught by Wm. Spence, who shoved him back and shut the door. Henderson cursed around for half an hour, calling the Grains traitors, cowards, &c., and then went home, alleging that the Bulliners and Grains were so thick in Spence's cellar, that when they drew their breath the floor raised. Marshal Grain was indicted for an assault with a deadly weapon on John Sisney, but never had a trial. The State's Attorney filed an information against about twenty of these fellows for riot, and at the February term of the Gounty Gourt, 1873, ^^'^^Y were all in Marion. The information was quashed, Thomas Russell went back by Grainsville, and at Spence's store he met with three of the Bulliner boys. They soon determined on a fight, but Russell ran off to Garterville, a half mile, where he found tfle Hendersons. He told James^to go back with him and see him a fair fight. James started back in a wagon, and they met George Bulliner coming down. James got out of his wagon and said :

"That's a lie; get down and let i^s stop it, for you are heading it; let's fight it out between me and you, and stop it, or, stop it without fighting, just as you want to."

Soon after this, Henderson was driving along by Vince Hinchcliff's with a load of rock, when Bulliner overtook him and they had some very hot words, Bulliner threatening to kill him on the spot, and Henderson challenging him to fight. Behind Bulliner was a wagon with five others in it, but they said nothing. Henderson drove on. He always contended from that day that he was waylaid. And it is almost certain that Bulliner had been, before this.

Along in the summer of 1873, Marshal Grain and John Sisney met in Crainville one night, and talked about shooting each other, but put up their pistols without firing.

Jennings, the State's Attorney, had these rioters arrested four times, and the information for riot was as often quashed. On the fifth trial, some of the rioters on the Grain side were convicted ; those on the other side changed the venue to Jackson county, where they were acquitted. At one of these attempted trials George Sisney got mad at Jennings, and was cursing him to me, in the Gounty Glerk's office, when Wesley Gouncil stepped in at the door. Sisney called him a " hell cat." Council drew his revolver, and I caught him and told him he should not be hurt. Sisney drew his revolver, but could not shoot without

Striking me, which he would not do. Wash Sisney was present, and did some talking of a threatening character. Council behaved himself with remarkable coolness to be in the presence of a man of the nerve of Sisney. I got him out of the door, and he went into an adjoining house. After the danger was all over, there were some wonderful exhibitions of bravery among the outsiders. The next difficulty in the Vendetta was Nov. 6, 1873, ^t the election in the Eight Mile, when Thomas Russell, David Pleasant and David Bulliner got into a fuss over the old feud, and James Norris, a new actor on the stage, (as was also Pleasant) who worked for the Bulliners, took it up for Bulliner. He went to B's for a gun, and soon returned with one, and Tom drew his revolver, but parties interfered, and prevented any killing. This was a serious affair. It was two desperate young men on each side, facing each other with deadly weapons, and it took the greatest exertion to prevent the death of some of them.

On the morning of December 12, 1873, George Bulliner started to Carbondale, on horseback. The sun was standing against the murkey haze of the east, red and sullen, like a great drop of blood, The pearly, vapor-like sails dotted the sky, and covered the more delicate sculptured clouds with their alabaster sides. The great oak-trees lifted their parapets to the morning sky, and spangled the earth with shadows. The voiceless winds swept with sublime resignation lawless through the leafless woods, and a melancholy breeze stirred the dead ferns and drooping rushes. A coldscented sluth-hound had followed the tracks of Bulliner remorselessly. This morning two of them, with stealthy movement, took their position near the Jackson county line in an old tree top, on the ground. There, planted on the spot, their ears drank in every sound that broke the air, mouth half open, ears, eyes, soul, all directed up the road to catch, if possible, each passing object. They thought they could tell the thud of BuUiner's horse's feet from all others. They lay down on their breasts, and fixed their eyes on the road winding down the valley. They stuck up brush to shield them from observation, like an Indian watching for his victim, alertly awake to every noise. Bulliner came riding along and one of the assassins fired on him ; only two or three of the balls took effect in his hip and leg ; but his horse wheeled and threw his back to the assassins, who fired on him again, and forty-four buckshot took effect in his back, and he fell to the earth. The assassins then escaped. Bulliner was soon found and carried to the nearest house, and his sons notified, but after desperate riding John reached the place only in time to hear his father say, " Turn me over and let me die." He did so, and George BuUiner escaped from the cruelties of earth to the charities of heaven. Look here, all you infernal wretches, and contemplate a spectacle which should inflame your hearts with mercy. Right in the face of heaven, and among men, George BuUiner was slain by one of the most sordid mortals that ever disgraced the black catalogue of crime, or befouled the fair fame of civilization, and his death, to-day, is unexpiated in Williamson County.

On the night of the 27th of March 1874, while Monroe and David BuUiner were on their way home from church, about half a mile westward from home, in a lane, they were fired on by two assassins, who were concealed in the fence corners, about twenty feet apart. The balls went in front of their breasts. David stepped forward a few steps, both drew their revolvers, and commenced firing on the assassins. A perfect hurricane of shots followed. The people going from church knew what it meant, and they stood still. The assassins emptied- two double-barrel shot guns and two navy revolvers. David fired three shots, and

Monroe six. The last shot from the assassin's gun struck David in the back, and he cried out, <' I am shot ! " and sank to the ground. Monroe ran to him, and at the same time heard a noise further down the road. He asked who was there ; a voice replied, " The Stancils," Mrs. Stancil, about fifty yards down the road had received a severe wound in the arm and abdomen, from which she afterwards recovered. The assassins retreated southward through the field. It was a scene worthy of the gods to see these two young men facing two concealed assassins, and fighting them like men of iron. At one time, Monroe charged on one of the villains, at the same time firing, and drove him out of the corner, and forced him to take refuge behind a rail, which Monroe struck with a ball. Who can read this without wishing a thousand times that he had shot the life's blood out of his black heart ! David was carried home by a host of friends, who had gathered at the scene. At the gate he asked : '*Is it a dream? is it a dream?" and each broken word gurgled up out of the red fountain of his life. His brothers were standing around, their faces sealed with the death seal of inexpressible suffering, and their hearts hushed in the pulsations of woes. His mother lay trembling against the casement, her heart throbbing with its burden of sorrow, while the issues of life or death were being weighed to the soul of her son. His sisters were standing in the vortex of misery, praying for the dreadful slaughter to be stopped, and suing for happiness with the sunny side of life in view. Convulsive sensations of horror and affright, and smothered execrations pervaded the men, and audible sobbings and screams, with tears, were heard among the women.

This was the worst murder of them all. No other equals it in heinousness. You may combine corruption, debauchery and all the forms of degradation known to the inventive genius of man, and cord them together with strings drawn from maidens' hearts, and paint the scene in human blood bespangled with broken vows and seared consciences, and still it will redden Heaven with revengeful blush and leave you to blacken hell to make it equal. It had not been long since the flash of fire from the gun of his father's assassin had sent a blasphemous challenge to his life. The echo from that gun had not ceased to ring, when this deed of barbarity was committed. David was a gentleman in the fullest sense. There was nothing mean in his appearance or conduct. Twenty-five years of age, tall, and of magnificent appearance, and respected by everybody for his still, quiet manners. But on the morning of the 28th, the twilight shadow of death, cold and gray, came stealing over him. A supernatural lustre lighted up his eye, and illuminated the gathering darkness. At length his eyes closed, and an expression of ineffable placidity settled on his pallid lips, and he was no more. He was taken to Tennessee, where his father had been, and buried. The night David was killed, the assassins had probably four stands, and there were no less than seven men on the watch for him ; but after he was shot, he charged Thomas Russell and David Pleasant of being his murderers. Jordan Halstead and Samuel R. Grain came to Marion that night, and I wrote out the writs for their arrest ; but it was near daylight when the posse co?nitafus, headed by Constable J. V. Grider, surrounded the residence of Jefferson Russell. Thomas was arrested, and a party sent on into Jackson County after Pleasant. They were both brought to Marion, and Russell employed me for his counsel. While he and Pleasant were in my office, Gordon Clifford, alias " Texas Jack," came in, talked a few words with Russell, and soon left town. Pleasant was about twentytwo, tall, awkwardly built, nervous, and seemed badly frightened. The case against him were nolled, and he imnnediately left the country. Most people believe him to be guilty. One thing I do know, that he was as uneasy as an eel on a hook, and his confused behavior makes it reasonable to suppose him guilty. It is not my business to say who is guilty, and who is not ; but, if he is, until repentance composes his mind, he will be a stranger to peace. Russell changed the venue in his case from W. N. Mitchell, J. P., to Geo. W. Young, J. P. All the batteries of the BuUiners were leveled on Russell. They employed three attorneys to assist the State's Attorney. W. W. Clemens was then employed by Russell to assist in his defense. The case went to trial on Thursday, but was nollied by The People, who already had another warrant for his arrest issued by George F. Grain, J. P. The State's Attorney, Jennings, had lost confidence in Young. In fact, being a most consummate scoundrel himself, he could see no virtue in anybody.