Chrisman, Illinois

Enos Martin was a son-in-law' of Somerville, having married one of his daughters. He lived with his father, Joshua Martin, on what was afterward known as the Stage farm, in Edgar Township. When Somerville and his family removed to Oregon, Martin accompanied them. Horatio Blanchard is now the longest resident of the township, having lived on the same place, just east of the village of Chrisman, since the year 1835. Five years before, he had removed from Ohio, and settled in Prairie Township, only a few miles east of his present home. Mr. Blanchard has been a close observer of all that has passed in this vicinity, and, having a remarkable memory, especially as regards the earlier events, we are able to congratulate our readers that whatever is here recorded is as reliable as it is possible at this date to obtain it. Mr. Blanchard says that, when he came to the township, there were not exceeding a half-dozen families, scattered up and down the edge of the timber, among which were the ones named, and a few others, whose names appear further on. lie says that all lived in very humble style, and were satisfied with the simple necessities of life. He describes society, though quite rude and simple, as being much more cordial and neighborly than at present. When a hog or a beef was butchered, all of the neighbors were remembered with a piece. When a cabin or a stable was to be raised, everybody for miles around was asked and expected to work all day, or until it was completed, without pay ; and, were a neighbor, by acci¬ dent, missed in the invitations, he would consider himself slighted ; and the other party, on the discovery of the omission, would feel himself bound to apologize. Sometimes, however, when such a mistake occurred, the neglected party would reason that " certainly Mr. A did not mean to slight him, and would feel sorry if he were not present to give his assistance and cheer on the occasion," and would, accordingly, mount his horse and be among the first on the ground, to find that his reasoning had been well based, and that he was among the most welcome. Such occasions were universally enlivened by imbibitions of the " beverage that, while it cheers, also inebriates." He also says that styles of clothing then in fashion would now appear quite novel. Buckskin pantaloons were quite common, and coonskin caps, with the highly - decorative tail hanging down the back, a la Crockett, were to be seen. Almost every man was the shoemaker for his family, and manufacture of this class was but little superior to the moccasins in use by their red neighbors, the Indians. Farming was done mostly by oxen, and many were too poor even to own a team or wagon. Mr. Blanchard relates that, to obtain money with which to pay for his land, he made several trips to Chicago, on foot, to work for Gurdon S. Hubbard, in the erection of the first brick building that was ever put up in that city. At that time, there were not a dozen families on the road from this point to the then village. Each of the families, however, constituted a hotel or tavern, in connection with farming operations ; and the traveler was always sure of a welcome, with fare consisting of corn-bread, bacon and milk. Indeed, at the time of which we write, though all did not charge for such entertainment, every cabin was open ; and nobody was suspected of being a tramp, but was welcomed and treated to the best the house could afford. Mr. Blanchard is now seventy-four years of age, but bids fair to turn another score, as he is quite as lively as most men of fifty.

Passage source: The History of Edgar County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County--its Cities, Towns, &c. : Directory of Its Tax-payers; War Records of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of Edgar County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c. Illustrated, published 1879.

Augustus Wyatt was one of the earliest settlers in the township. He came from Virginia, and settled here in 1830. In 1832, he volunteered in the service of the United States as a soldier, to rid the State of the presence of Black Hawk, mentioned in a general way elsewhere, and more particularly with reference to ijiis county in the history of Grand View Township. Mr. Wyatt died soon after his return from that expedition. A son of Mr. Wyatt now resides near the village of Hume.

Passage source: The History of Edgar County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County--its Cities, Towns, &c. : Directory of Its Tax-payers; War Records of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of Edgar County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c. Illustrated, published 1879.

Thomas Holden also arrived about 1830. He was a native of Kentuckv, and had lived there till he was well advanced in life. He lived here until his deaths which occurred many years ago, being one of the very few old men who seek the hardships, excitements and privations of a pioneer life. Edgar County, in this regard, presents a very different aspect from what it did forty years ago. Then the proportion of aged people was comparatively small ; now the proportionate number is as great as is found in other localities.

Passage source: The History of Edgar County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County--its Cities, Towns, &c. : Directory of Its Tax-payers; War Records of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of Edgar County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illustrated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c. Illustrated, published 1879.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Ross Township - it names this place 38 more 38 times.